COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - In an update to the fight against coronavirus, the Defense Department directed all individuals on DoD property, to the extent practical, wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distancing in public areas. In many facets of a training air wing, six feet of physical distance isn’t practical. Wing leaders researched how to purchase dust masks online, but quickly found out masks are in short supply. Col. Samantha Weeks, 14th Flying Training Wing commander at Columbus AFB, Miss., wanted to “tap into” community efforts to ensure the wing’s mission could continue in a safe manner for the team and their families. Patricia Wilson, whose husband is retired Air Force and a T-1 simulator instructor at CAFB, was already making face coverings for local organizations and commissary employees. Wilson, best known for sewing efforts in support of the annual Columbus Spring Pilgrimage, was one of the first volunteers to step up. “I used remnants from the fabrics that I had left over from our pilgrimage dresses,” Wilson said. “It really didn’t cost me anything, other than time.” Col. Weeks reached out to Wilson to discuss forming a team of spouses to make face masks. “Without hesitation, she jumped in and I could even hear her excitement over the phone.” Using appropriated funds, Wilson along with AF spouses, Brittani Metzger and Kelly Marshall, got started. More than 200 yards of fabric and sewing necessities to make about 6,000 coverings. The initiative brought to mind those women who pitched into the WWII effort, and became known as the iconic “Rosie the Riveter,” only a 21st century version. When Weeks discovered some of the sewers were men, she commented about “how Rosie has evolved into today’s Robbie the Riveter.” (Source: CAFB 04/07/20)
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