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Posted on 08/28/2004 11:39:26 PM PDT by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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 Uncle Sam Who was Uncle Sam? While no one is actually sure of his origins, Uncle Sam has been with us since the early 1800s. In all likelihood, he was the hybrid of two different beginnings. The name "Uncle Sam" appears to have been given to a man named Samuel Wilson, who slaughtered and supplied large amounts of meat to the newly formed United States Army. His shipping crates carried the stamp "U.S." which someone, jokingly or otherwise, suggested stood for "Uncle Sam" Wilson, and this nickname came to symbolize the Federal Government.  While Sam Wilson may have been the source of the name "Uncle Sam," he was not the inspiration of the image. For one thing, Wilson was clean-shaven while the caricatures of Uncle Sam all show a man with a white beard. The creator of the image of Uncle Sam, as we know him, was Thomas Nast, a nineteenth century political cartoonist who started drawing the star-spangled red-white-and-blue-suited symbol of American identity. Uncle Sam was not the only character Nast drew. His other character, dressed similarly, was "Brother Jonathan" or Yankee Doodle. The difference in the two characters was pronounced, though: Brother Jonathan always was depicted clean-shaven and with a feather in his cap; Uncle Sam always appeared with the beard and often with top hat.  Although first appearing in 1838 in the Nast illustrations, the most common image of the elder statesman of America is the World War I poster drawn by James Montgomery Flagg for Army Recruitment with the caption "I WANT YOU!"  No matter what Uncle Sam's roots may be, he has become a symbol, recognized throughout the world, of American resolve, strength and determination.       |
Afternoon PE.
Nice graphic today and a great poem to go with it.
I was thinking "Prime Cut" or "The DIrty Dozen"
Hi Samwise. :-)
I'm in, finally.
DSL was down.
Afternoon stand watie
Free Dixie!
Hey Matt! I have a Letter Opener of that sword that my Dad brought back from Poland. :-)
We had a great time, thanks.
Good evening EGC.
Good evening Gail.
We had a fine time, beautiful weather today.
Good evening Valin.
Thanks for the daily Word Mayor.
Thanks for the Uncle Sam bump apackof2.
Thanks for the Groban tune feather.
I think I'll call him "Mac."
Great poem and pic for our flag-o-gram today. Thanks PE.
Hi Samwise.
Great Uncle Sam/911 drawing, thanks Samwise.
Wonderful post Matt, thanks.
We were gone all day or we would have missed you. ;-)
LOL!
Got messed up horribly with the DSL being down.
FR withdrawl ya know..
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