National icon shines in red, white and blue

Recently I had the unique opportunity to interview a real American symbol in red, white and blue: Uncle Sam.

Our good old Uncle Sam has been an enduring symbol of the country with the same initials for nearly 200 years. With a white, pointed beard, top hat and pointed finger, the iconic image of Uncle Sam is known all over the world.

You have been through a lot over the past 200 or so years, how have you been able to endure?

It’s been tough at times. We’ve been through several terrible wars, the Great Depression, disease, displacement of peoples like Native Americans and African Americans and the terrible terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, but we have survived.

I have to be careful not to dwell on the negative because my job is to promote what is good and great about the United States.

I look at myself as an ambassador of goodwill to remind people that they must participate in the process and defend the country no matter what the cost, or it will not endure.

Your background is a little foggy. Can you shed some light on it?

Be careful what you read. Although some dispute my origin to Samuel Wilson in 1812, it’s all true. It was Samuel Wilson, the first Uncle Sam, who supported our troops in the War of 1812 by providing them with crates of meat, which he stamped “U.S.”

Soldiers claimed the U.S. stood for Uncle Sam. It stuck.

People really started to pay attention to Uncle Sam when James Montgomery Flagg’s famous poster appeared in 1917. Millions of copies of the poster were printed and reprinted, even throughout World War II, to remind people to remain vigilant and prepared.

By the way, the face on the poster is a compilation of the artist and Samuel Wilson. It also happens to look a lot like me.

What’s up with the finger? Why are you pointing it?

Many people take the finger the wrong way; it’s not accusatory. The “I Want You for U.S. Army” poster was designed to challenge us to step it up and support the country; that’s where the finger came from. That’s what I stand for. Although you see the poster with the U.S. Army removed, the message is still the same.

What is your schedule like?

During the year I make lots of unpublicized appearances at places all over the country. I’ve been in towns with no traffic lights as well as New York City. I go wherever I’m needed and wanted.

Of course, my busiest time of the year is the July 4th weekend when I take part in parades, parties, fireworks shows and concerts all over the land. My only regret is that people sometimes tend to forget why we celebrate July 4th. I’m there to remind them it’s important to gather as families and have fun, but it’s more important to celebrate the founding of the country.

How are you able to cover so many events, especially on patriotic holidays?

Obviously, like someone else we all know who wears a red suit with a white beard, I can’t be everywhere at one time. I do have a lot of great assistants who have been holding up the tradition for years.

Of course, there are height and weight requirements, but the main quality to become an assistant is a real love for the red, white and blue.

But, you have to be careful because there are a lot of Uncle Sam imitators out there. The best way to make sure you are dealing with a real Uncle Sam is to simply pull his beard.

The country is splintered politically like no other time in recent history. Many claim the government has become ineffective. What will it take to get the country moving in a positive direction again?

Of course I am concerned about the state of affairs in the country I love. I will say this: It’s time to return to the roots of what made this country great in the first place.

We have the greatest foundations – U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence – for building a free country in the history of the world. I think our leaders need to dust them off and read them again. From time to time, we need to take a step back and reflect on the reason for the red, white and blue in the first place.

It might the time for a resurgence of Uncle Sam. If so, I’m ready for it.