Uncle Sam

Was Uncle Sam a real person? Yes he was! This symbol of United State with a long white beard, wearing stripped trousers and top hat, was a meat packer from New York state.

Uncle Sam was Samuel Wilson, born in Arlington, Massachusets in 1766. At the age of eight, he was a drummer boy in the American Revolution. Later in life he moved to New York and opened a meat-packaging company. He was a good and caring employer and became affectionately known us Uncle Sam.

Sam Wilson sold meat to the army, and He wrote the letters US on the craters. This meant 'United State', but this abbrevation was not yet common. One day a company worker was asked what the letter US stood for. He wasn't sure, and wrongly said that perhaps the letters stood for. His employer, Uncle Sam. Nevertheless, the mistakess continued. Soon soldiers started referring to all military goods as coming from Uncle Sam. They even Saw themselves as Uncle Sam's men.