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Today marks the anniversary of the creation of "Uncle Sam" in 1813. Uncle Sam is one of the most recognized symbols of the United States.
During the War of 1812, soldiers stationed in Troy, New York, received rations of meat stamped with a "U.S." The supplier was Samuel Wilson. Eventually, soldiers began referring to the meat deliveries as Uncle Sam, the legend goes, and an icon was born.
The first image of Uncle Sam premiered on this day in 1813. But, it would not be the last.
The image of Uncle Sam in a white beard wearing a stars-and-stripes suit originated with Thomas Nast in 1869. You know his work. Nast is one of the first prolific political cartoonists. He created the image of the modern Santa Claus as a jolly bearded man in a red suit, the donkey for the Democratic Party, and the elephant for the Republican Party.
However, the most famous representation of Uncle Sam was inspired by a British recruitment poster and came from the mind of James Montgomery Flagg in 1917. In this WWI poster, Uncle Sam is seen wearing a tophat and a blue jacket and is pointing straight to the viewer stating, "I Want You for the U.S. Army." The poster was effective and has become part of American iconography.
In 1961, Congress issued a resolution recognizing Uncle Sam of Troy, New York, and erected a monument in his honor.
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