World War II Honoree

Florence Thoma Ayers

Hometown

Neillsville, Wisconsin

Honored By

Charlotte M. Ayers

Relationship

Daughter

WIFE OF A WISCONSIN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER AND MOTHER OF 5 CHILDREN, SHE WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH WARDEN; PLANE SPOTTER; AND A VOLUNTEER WITH THE RED CROSS WHERE SHE MADE LAP-ROBES FOR WOUNDED IN HOSPITALS, PULLED PIECES FROM COTTON BATTING AND MADE THEM INTO COTTON BALLS TO USE FOR SWABBING, AND ROLLED TORN STRIPS OF WHITE SHEETS INTO ROLLS FOR BANDAGES. WORKED ON WAR BOND DRIVES, BOUGHT WAR BOND STAMPS, HAD A LARGE VICTORY GARDEN AND SHARED VEGETABLES WITH NEIGHBORS. WITH HER 3 SONS, TWO NEIGHBORHOOD MOTHERS AND THEIR SONS, DUG INTO AN OLD DUMP AND UNCOVERED SCRAP METAL, ALUMINUM, BRASS, COPPER, IRON, BED SPRINGS, PIECES OF AUTOMOBILE MOTORS AND THE FRAME OF AN OLD TRUCK. WHEN LOADED ONTO THE SCRAP COLLECTION TRUCK, THE LOAD WEIGHED OUT AT 2,280 POUNDS.