CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Belgian military commander is coming to West Virginia to express his country's thanks to the real women behind the iconic Rosie the Riveter

The event is set for Nov. 7 at Shepherd University and will feature some of the women who took factory jobs to the keep U.S. productive during World War II. Among them is Mary Lou Maroney, who was born in East Bank. She riveted bombers in Detroit at a Ford Motor plant.

The gathering is organized by Thanks! Plain and Simple!, a nonprofit group that works to support veterans. The group sponsored a similar event at the state Capitol in Charleston in August.

John Haulotte, an Iraq War veteran, says the group has identified nearly 100 Rosies and videotaped at least 20 as it creates a statewide collection of their stories. It hopes to have a documentary done by spring 2011.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Belgian military commander is coming to West Virginia to express his country's thanks to the real women behind the iconic Rosie the Riveter

The event is set for Nov. 7 at Shepherd University and will feature some of the women who took factory jobs to the keep U.S. productive during World War II. Among them is Mary Lou Maroney, who was born in East Bank. She riveted bombers in Detroit at a Ford Motor plant.

The gathering is organized by Thanks! Plain and Simple!, a nonprofit group that works to support veterans. The group sponsored a similar event at the state Capitol in Charleston in August.

John Haulotte, an Iraq War veteran, says the group has identified nearly 100 Rosies and videotaped at least 20 as it creates a statewide collection of their stories. It hopes to have a documentary done by spring 2011.