There’s no shortage of stories of bravery and heroism, both on the battlefield and at home, from World War II. The “Greatest Generation” endured the Great Depression, then went on to fight in one of the deadliest wars in human history. At home, everyone got involved in the war effort. Young children picked up cans to be used for metal. Women went to work at factories making supplies for the military. Everyone faced rations and a shortage of many items needed in the kitchen.
The Smithsonian Museum of American History has an unexpected piece of this time in America history in its collection. A wedding dress, fashioned from a used parachute, represents both the bravery and ingenuity of the period.
World War II pilot Maj. Claude Hensinger proposed to his wife holding the parachute that had saved his life. Following his ejection from his B-29 bomber over China, Major Hensinger’s parachute ensured his safe landing. He and his crew had to evade the Japanese, deal with injuries sustained in the ejection and landing, and keep warm during the night. His parachute helped with all of those things.
When Major Hensinger returned home, he began dating his future-wife, Ruth. He proposed in 1947, holding the parachute that had saved his life and asked her to use it to make her wedding dress. Ruth said yes.
Oh my goodness. Tears of joy. Beautiful for so many reasons. Treasure things that matter the most to you. #TimeCapsule moment. https://t.co/k6qIwR1AeS
— Time Capsule.com (@NewTimeCapsule) February 8, 2019
Drawing inspiration from the white dress worn by Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone With the Wind,” Ruth made a dress and veil for her wedding. In the movie, Scarlett fashions a dress out of drapes when she also needed to use unconventional materials to make a fashion-forward gown.
Ruth herself made the skirt, while she had a local professional construct the veil and bodice.
According to Military Spouse, the couple was married for 49 years, until Hensinger’s death in 1996. It was also worn by the couple’s daughter and son’s bride at their weddings.
The parachute dress is part of the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History’s collection of American artifacts in Washington, D.C. It joins 137 million artifacts, pieces of art, specimens, and other items in the collection. It is indeed a part of our nation’s history—both the bravery of those who fought in World War II and the American spirit of those they came home to and built their lives with at the end of the war.
