Meet your Uncle Sam

National Patriot Day (9/11)

You know Uncle Sam was a real guy?
He’s the famous patriotic caricature we’ve seen on posters:
“I Want You For US ARMY.” 

Samuel Wilson, born in 1766,  worked as a NYC meat packer. During the War of 1812, he supplied troops with meat shipped in barrels. They were labeled “US”, short for “United States” but the story was it actually stood for his nickname “Uncle Sam”. 
The story eventually spread and the rest is history (literally). 

This 1850 photo of Wilson is the only known photograph of him.

And a thought about which branch of the military is the most patriotic.
I’ll say the Air Force. They’re US AF! :0)

the only photo of the original Uncle Sam and the recruitment poster he inspired for national patriot day

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