YOU WON’T BELIEVE THE REAL-LIFE ORIGINS OF THE UNCLE SAM POSTER


By kbarber
uncle sam poster

The Uncle Sam poster enjoys some good company with other iconic American imagery like Rosie the Riveter and Kilroy Was Here. Like these icons, Uncle Sam, too, has a fascinating history that isn’t all that well-known to the American public. To try and raise awareness of this awesome story, an entire day is dedicated to good ole’ Uncle Sam. Celebrate Uncle Sam Day with us by learning more about his history. Suggested read:A SEAL Team 6 Movie About Adam Brown Is Coming, But at What Cost?

More Than Propaganda: The Origins of the Uncle Sam Poster

The Uncle Sam origin isn’t 100% proven. However, the leading and generally accepted theory for the man behind the poster, Uncle Sam himself, is that he was a man named Sam Wilson (and yes, this is exactly where the Captain America character Sam Wilson came from). Mr. Wilson was a meat packer based out of Troy, NY, who would stamp “U.S.” on all of the meat barrels he sold and shipped to the United States Army during the War of 1812. Makes perfect sense, right? Somewhat of a local legend and widely-loved man around town, those who knew him and knew of him often called him “Uncle Sam” due to his kindly and parental nature. It made sense, then, that when people saw his meat barrels marked with “U.S.,” they believed he was marking it with his own “Uncle Sam” nickname. Soon enough, the real acronym for U.S., meaning United States, became thoroughly intertwined with this legend of “Uncle Sam,” and Uncle Sam quickly became the personification of the United States. Is this his true origin? Uncle Sam, the meat packer from Troy, NY? The real truth may be lost to history, but this is America, so feel free to believe what you will.

What Is Uncle Sam Day?

National Uncle Sam Day is celebrated on September 13 every year. This date isn’t arbitrary; Sam Wilson, the man who’s widely believed to have been the original Uncle Sam, was born on September 13, 1766. A simple yet heartfelt origin, Uncle Sam Day not only honors the spirit of the American Uncle Sam but also the spirit of Sam Wilson, himself – a man who embodied much of what America was and is all about. A hard-working blue-collar man who devoted much of his labors to the war effort, Sam Wilson is an icon in his own right, even aside from the Uncle Sam posters he inspired.

The Original Uncle Sam Poster and More Popular Variants

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Celebrating the Uncle Sam Poster and Everything It Represents

Join us on September 13 to celebrate the life and legacy of Uncle Sam, both the man and the symbol. Military recruitment in the modern day might be far more complex than just spreading around an Uncle Sam poster around town, but he’ll always be an inspiration and a great representation of the country. Read next:Have a Pulse? The Military Wants YOU!


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