Uncle Sam And Old Glory Symbols Of America

Have you ever wondered why the American colors are red, white, and blue? Did you know that our national mascot was almost a turkey rather than a bald eagle? Can you trace your family's ancestry back to theMayflowerPilgrims, or perhaps to a cowboy of the Old West? Do you think you would like to spend Thanksgiving watching footraces rather than televised football or eating venison and oysters rather than turkey? Many of us have played with Lincoln Logs, but did you know that they were named after President Abraham Lincoln, who was born in a log cabin?Symbols have always played a crucial role in shaping our identity as a country. The American buffalo, the Statue of Liberty, theMayflower,and Uncle Sam himself have all helped convey to the world the American values of liberty and democracy.Delno and Jean West's lively prose unveils the stories behind America's symbols, complemented by Christopher Manson's handsome woodcuts, which perfectly convey the rugged individualism of the American spirit.

Delno C. West taught history at Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff. He was the author of seven books and fifty articles for both scholarly and general readers and was a popular lecturer and guest speaker. He enjoyed travel, collecting antiquarian books and glass art, and spending time with his grandchildren.