Sammedy-Sam
By Veronica MacDonald Ditko
An Accidental Anthropologist
When the Fourth of July rolls around, I often think of a white-bearded man. No, I’m not that desperate for Christmas to come again (but I’ll have you know it is only 5 months away!). I’m talking about Uncle Sam. Who is this guy and why is he so strongly tied to patriotism?
The term “Uncle Sam” has actually been around since 1812. During the War of 1812, a package of fat for soldiers was purchased in Troy, New York by contractor Elbert Anderson with the initials E.A.-U.S. on it. The goods were inspected by two brothers, Ebenezer and Samuel Wilson. The latter was known as “Uncle Sam.” When a workman was asked what the initials stood for, he joked that they meant Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam. And the name stuck.
The image I associate with Uncle Sam is from an old poster. Painted by James Montgomery Flagg in 1917, the poster was used to recruit soldiers for World Wars I and II. The face of that Uncle Sam was actually Flagg’s, and the body was that of veteran Walter Botts. But some say it does eerily resemble the face of (Uncle) Sam Wilson’s.
Flagg’s image first appeared on the cover of Leslie’s Weekly (an American news magazine) on July 6, 1916 with the caption: What Are You Doing for Preparedness? That sure does remind me of 9-11.
The icon of Uncle Sam was handy for wars for recruitment and newspaper cartoon purposes. Uncle Sam has been seen over the years fighting John Bull, the patriotic icon for Britain.
The patriotism lives on, with glimpses of Uncle Sam here and there. The city of Troy, New York is hosting an Uncle Sam Jam Celebration on August 28 and an Uncle Sam Parade on September 12. They even have a statue of Sam Wilson in town. Another statue of Sam Wilson can be found in Arlington, Massachusetts, where he was born.
Other towns with more commercial Uncle Sam statues include Evansville, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, and Vicennes, Indiana; Ottawa Lake, Michigan; Virginia, Minnesota; Hatch, New Mexico; Lake George, New York; Port Erie, Ontario; Convoy, Ohio; and Clarksville, Tennessee.
Uncle Sam is supposed to look like a stern, elderly man. But I can’t help but think of him fondly in his ridiculous outfit of striped trousers and blue top hat (which are designed to evoke the American flag). I mean, would he really go out in public? Was he the eccentric old man down the block? We may never know. I guess he is whatever you want him to be.
Veronica MacDonald Ditko is originally from the Jersey Shore, but married and settled in northern New Jersey. Her journalism career started a decade ago after studying Psychology and Anthropology in Massachusetts. She has written for several newspapers and magazines including The Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Springfield Union News and Sunday Republican, Happi, Chemical Week, The Hawthorne Press, The Jewish Standard, Suite101.com and more.
Originally published July 2, 2010.