THE PROGENITOR OF AMERICA'S NATIONAL SYMBOL

CONGRESS RECOGNIZES THE MAN BEHIND UNCLE SAM

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 7, 1813, the Congress of the United States officially recognized Samuel Wilson* as "the progenitor of America's national symbol."

Samuel Wilson was a meat packer who has supplied barrels of beef to the US Army during the War of 1812 with Great Britain.   Wilson stamped his beef barrels with the letters "U.S." for United States.  American soldiers, however, called the beef Uncle Sam's.

In the late 1800s, political cartoonist Thomas Nast popularized the image of "Uncle Sam", but the most famous image comes from James Montgomery Flagg's illustration for a WWI recruiting poster with the caption 'I WANT YOU FOR U.S.ARMY'.

*Samuel Wilson (1766-1854) was born in Menotomy, Massachusetts.  He later moved to New Hampshire and then to Troy, NY.  He served in the War for Independence and afterward became a brickmaker.  In 1793, he opened a slaughterhouse in Troy.  

"Uncle Sam" Wilson

Poster by James Montgomery Flagg

                      Sam Wilson's Grave

                          Troy, New York

            by Boris Karpachev (2003)

THE SAMMIES ARE COMING!

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2363

PERSHING LIKES "SAMMY" FOR HIS BOYS' NICKNAME

Paris, France (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, July 7, 1917, in an interview with United Press, Major General John J. Pershing said...

"In my estimation (the nickname Sammy*) is the best possible one for these American boys."

Pershing went on to express his "pleasure and gratitude" for the reception his soldiers were given by the people of Paris on July 4th.

The General said...

"It was marvelous to see the French crowds shower flowers on our boys just as they would on their own."


*Sammy became a popular term for the American soldiers of WWI in Great Britain.  It derived, of course, from "Uncle Sam" the well-known symbol of the United States of America.

In the second verse of George M. Cohan's "Over There", Nora Bayes sang it..."Over There, Over There, the Sammies are coming."

SOURCE

"All Right, Gen. Pershing, We'll Call 'Em Sammy,"  The Chicago Daily Tribune, July 8, 1917.

"Sammies," The Word Detective, www.word-detective.com/

Uncle Sam Recruiting Poster
by J. M. Flagg (1917)
Library of Congress Photo

"A REAL LIVE NEPHEW OF MY UNCLE SAM"

September 7, 2013

"A REAL LIVE NEPHEW OF MY UNCLE SAM"

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The Congress of the United States officially recognized Samuel Wilson* as "the progenitor of America's national symbol, Uncle Sam" 200 years ago today, September 7, 1813.

                      "Uncle Sam" Wilson

Samuel Wilson was a meat packer who has supplied barrels of beef to the US Army during the War of 1812 with Great Britain.

Wilson stamped his beef barrels with the letters "U.S." for United States.  American soldiers, however, called the beef Uncle Sam's.

In the late 1800s, political cartoonist Thomas Nast popularized the image of "Uncle Sam", but the most famous image comes from James Montgomery Flagg's illustration for a WWI recruiting poster with the caption 'I WANT YOU FOR U.S.ARMY'.

   Poster by James Montgomery Flagg

*Samuel Wilson (1766-1854) was born in Menotomy, Massachusetts.  He later moved to New Hampshire and then to Troy, NY.  He served in the War for Independence and afterward became a brickmaker.

In 1793, he opened a slaughterhouse in Troy.  Uncle Sam Wilson died at the age of 87.

                      Sam Wilson's Grave
                          Troy, New York
            by Boris Karpachev (2003)

GERMANS UNLEASHED "BLITZ" ON LONDON

London, England (JFK+50) German bombers began to unleash a "blitz" on the city of London 73 years ago today, September 7, 1940.

300 German aircraft dropped 337 tons of bombs on the city causing more than 400 civilian deaths.  

A state of emergency was declared on the 1st of 57 consecutive nights of bombing.

             Heinkel Over Wapping
                London's East End
                September 7, 1940

CONGRESS RECOGNIZES "UNCLE SAM"

September 7, 1813


CONGRESS RECOGNIZES "UNCLE SAM"


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The Congress of the United States today officially recognized Samuel Wilson of Troy, New York as "the progenitor of America's national symbol, Uncle Sam."

                      "Uncle Sam" Wilson


Samuel Wilson is a meat packer who has supplied barrels of beef to the US Army during the War of 1812 with Great Britain.


Wilson stamped his beef barrels with the letters "U.S." for United States.  American soldiers, however, call the beef Uncle Sam's.*


*In the late 1800s, political cartoonist Thomas Nast popularized the image of "Uncle Sam", but the most famous image comes from James Montgomery Flagg's illustration for a WWI recruiting poster with the caption 'I WANT YOU FOR U.S.ARMY'.

   Poster by James Montgomery Flagg


September 7, 1940


GERMANS UNLEASH "BLITZ" ON LONDON


London, England (JFK+50) Beginning at 8 p.m. local time,  German bombers began to unleash a "blitz" on the city of London.


300 German aircraft dropped 337 tons of bombs on the city causing more than 400 civilian deaths.  


A state of emergency has been declared.*

*This was only the 1st of 57 consecutive nights of bombing.

             Heinkel Over Wapping
                London's East End
                September 7, 1940


September 7, 1950


UN SECURITY COUNCIL DEFEATS SOVIET CONDEMNATION OF US BOMBING OF NORTH KOREA


New York City (JFK+50) The United Nations Security Council today defeated by a vote of 9 to 1 a resolution proposed by representatives of the Soviet Union to condemn the bombing of North Korea by the United States.


Today's vote follows by 2 months the UN's approval for the use of force to stop communist aggression against South Korea.


The Soviets referred to the bombing by the United States as "Hitlerian" & "inhuman".


September 7, 1950


SPELLMAN ANNOUNCES $2.5 MILLION DONATION BY JOSEPH P. KENNEDY,SR.


New York City (JFK+50) Francis Cardinal Spellman announced today that Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., former US ambassador to Great Britain, has donated $2.5 million for the building of a home for neglected children in the Bronx at 1170 Stillwell Avenue.


The donation was made in the name of Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. who was killed in World War II.

                    Cardinal Spellman
              Archbishop of New York


September 7, 1956


JFK AWARDED HONORARY DEGREE AT LOWELL


Lowell, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Senator John F. Kennedy was given an honorary Doctor of Science degree today by Lowell Technological Institute.


With the degree is a citation praising the senator as a "statesman, philanthropist, public servant & inspiration to his own & future generations".

                      Southwick Hall
      Lowell Technological Institute
         Lowell, Massachusetts 1903


September 7, 1961


JFK WANTS CONGRESS TO ACT ON AGREEMENT WITH FRENCH


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Kennedy asked the Congress of the United States today to act on an agreement concluded with France providing for the installation of defensive nuclear weapons as part of the French military arsenal.


September 7, 1962


JFK WANTS POWER TO CALL UP RESERVES


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Kennedy today asked Congress for the authority to call 150,000 reserves to active duty.


The President is responding to the sending of military equipment by the USSR to Fidel Castro's Cuba.


JFK said that "this authorization is necessary to permit prompt & effective responses....to challenges which may be presented."

September 7, 1967


McNAMARA LINE IS PROPOSED FOR VIETNAM


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara proposed today an "electronic anti-infiltration barrier" which would block the communist flow of arms & troops into South Vietnam from the north.


The barrier is to consist of 20,000 air-dropped listening devices as well as more than half a billion land mines.


The McNamara Line is projected to cost $800 million a year.*


*The idea, given to McNamara by JFK National Security Adviser Carl Kaysen, proved impractical as the NVA simply changed their supply routes.

                             Dr. Carl Kaysen
                            MIT Photograph


September 7, 1977


CARTER GIVES CONTROL OF CANAL TO PANAMA


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Jimmy Carter today signed a treaty which will give Panama control over the Panama Canal beginning in the year 2000.


The treaty ends the 1904 Hay-Bunau Treaty negotiated during the Theodore Roosevelt administration.


The treaty was signed by President Carter & President Torrijos of Panama.

      President Carter & President Torrijos