Uncle Sam

Who is Uncle Sam?  Whose uncle is he?  Uncle Sam is a human symbol of the United States.  He's dressed in red, white, and blue and is often seen at parades and celebrations all over our country.  Sam Wilson of Troy, NY was the man Uncle Sam was modeled after.  Sam was a meatpacker who fought in the Revolutionary War.  During the War of 1812 Sam's meat company would pack meat to ship in barrels mark with U.S.  People began to say the meat was from Uncle Sam.  So, people all over the country began to know "Uncle Sam".  Uncle Sam continued to be a symbol of our country.  During World War I and World War II Uncle Sam was often seen saying "I want you!"  as a way to recruit men to serve in the military.

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Troy, New York

Troy, New York was one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution.  It's located on the New York/Massachusetts border.  It's most famous citizen was Uncle Sam.  Harriet Tubman made a stop in Troy along the Underground Railroad.

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