Patriotic Postcards

It's a red-white-and-blue kind of weekend! Happy 4th of July!!
Not surprisingly, I like these quaint, vintage patriotic post cards.


JULY
Handwritten: "Dear old U. S. A. on the 4th of July. My last cent boys(?)" 
COPYRIGHT 1905 THE ULMAN MFG. CO. N.Y. . Postmarked March 1907


"The Star Spangled Banner" Postmarked January 1913

The last three verses of The Star Spangled Banner aren't even vaguely familiar to me.

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Chorus:

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? 

On the shore dimly seen thro’ the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a Country should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution:

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,

Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;

Blest with vict'ry and peace may the Heaven-rescued land

Praise the Pow’r  that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto - "In God is our trust!" 

Written by Francis Scott Key – September 1814

Proclaimed the National Anthem by an Act of Congress – March 3, 1931

"OUR FLAG" 
"WHEN you see the STARS AND STRIPES displayed, son, stand up and take off your hat! Somebody may titter. But don’t you mind! When Old Glory comes along, salute, and let them think what they please! For of all the signs and symbols since the world began, there is never another so full of meaning to mankind as the flag of our country.
That piece of red, white and blue bunting means five thousand years of struggle upward. It is the full blown flower of ages of fighting for liberty. It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.
Our flag stands for no race. It stands for men, men of any blood who will come and live with us under its protection. It is the only banner that means mankind. It is not the flag of our king – it is the flag of ourselves.
OTHER flags mean a glorious past; our flag, a glorious past and a still more glorious future. It is the flag of our fathers, and of our children yet unborn. It is the flag of to-morrow.
It stands for the open door of ambition and opportunity – of equal rights to every one beneath the shadow of its folds.
Our flag waves defiance at all the ghosts that have so long intimidated men: the ghost of monarchy, the ghost of war, and all their kind that still lay shadowy hands upon the life of Europe and Asia.
Listen son! The band is playing ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’ They have let loose Old Glory yonder. Stand up! Some people over there are smiling at us. Stand up, bare your head, lift up your eyes and thank God that you live under that flag, which means the redemption of the world.”



"IN GOD WE TRUST" 
"THE AMERICAN CREED" 
by William Tyler Page. Accepted by House of Representatives, April 3rd, 1918. 
"I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its Flag, and to defend it against all enemies."
 

200 YEARS OF FREEDOM 
Words and Music by Glenn E. Heck 
"Tell all the world a-bout it, Stand on your feet and shout it. 
Two hun-dred years of lib-er-ty…….. 
Tell all the world our Sto-ry, two - hun - dred years of glo - ry. 
We know the joy of be - ing free. . . . . . 
Wake up the world, we're mov-ing, Wake up the world, we're march - ing 
on - ward to high-er des-ti-ny. . . . . 
Two hun - dred years of free-dom, two hun - dred years of free-dom, 
Two hun - dred years of lib - er - ty! 
May our na - tion, un - der God, re - mem - ber where our fa-thers 
trod and raise our ban - ner proud and free for peo - ple of the 
world to see. 
- ty. . . . Two hun - dred years of Fine lib - er - ty!" 
"200 years of freedom is the official Bicentennial Song of Warner Robins, "Georgia's International City", written in 1975 by Glenn Heck. The arrangements for solo, chorus, barbershop quartette [sic] and band are by Lyle Heck."

Happy Independence Day!

A few more from my vintage patriotic postcard collection:


"July 4th 1776" postmark reads Jul 4 7 am Millvale PA (no year!!). Printed in Germany.
I can read most of the message and I thought it was pretty interesting - I wish the postmark had a year rather than the time of day.  

"Hello Well how are you Sadie & I are pretty warm up here. We are getting lots of rides on the Street Cars. We was on a flying machine Sat. night & we were scared half to death. We went flying ?? the air ?? "

"Long May it Wave over Land & Sea" Copyright 1910 L. R. Conwell, N.Y. mailed June 1911


"Greetings from Laughlintown, Pa." mailed Oct 1910


"Birthplace of Old Glory - Open to the Public" Souvenir Post Card Co., New York. Printed in Germany


"Next Sunday will be Rally Day in the School ~ Will you help make it a Grand Success by being present early yourself? Bring someone not already a member. Urge your parents to come. Cordially yours," R. D. Form No. 2 Goodenough & Woglom Co. 122 Nassau St. N. Y.

***Happy 4th of July!!***

Greetings from the State of Washington

Summer time is vacation time! My Facebook feed is full of images from folks traveling the world.

During World War 2 there was a series of postcards for servicemen to use for free. The back includes this statement:
"Greetings from the State of Washington - This card is furnished for convenience of men in the armed services by the Washington State Progress Commission, P. O. Box 907, Olympia, Washington. Write the Commission for any information desired about the state or for Victory File for use in planning your first after-war vacation"
While these are promoting tourism in to Washington state after the war since this isn't the year for an international travel vacation for me, I can look for destinations in my own backyard.


"Mount Rainier - rising 14,408 feet into the sky, Mt. Rainier is spectacularly beautiful and the crowing triumph of the Evergreen State of Washington. Here it is only two hours from sea level to ski level."


"Rosario Beach - This beach is at one of the gateways to the San Juan Islands, in the scenic State of Washington. There are 172 islands in this large group in Puget Sound."


"The Peace Arch - This peace Arch at Blaine, Washington on the international boundary between Canada and the United States, commemorates 100 years of friendship along 3,000 miles of unfortified border, between peoples of a common origin."


"Mount Saint Helens - Majestically rising above Spirit Lake in Southwest Washington, is one of the state's four major peaks in the Cascade Rage. Other are Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and Mount Baker, all over 10,000 feet."


"Columbia River - The Beautiful - Second only to the Mississippi, flows for 750 miles through the state of Washington. On the Columbia are the Grand Coulee and Bonneville dams."


"Dry Falls - Situated in Dry Falls State Park, in Central Washington, near Grand Coulee Dam, is on of the geological wonders of the world. Over the brink once roared a prehistoric falls of the Columbia, forty times greater than Niagara."


"Grand Coulee Dam - This Dam on the Columbia River in the State of Washington, is man's biggest job. It is four times larger than the Great Pyramid, and as high as the Washington Monument"


If you have shared any Washington State postcards from this series, I would love a link in the comments to see your collection.

They Fought Like Heroes

A few Civil War images postcards on this Memorial Day.

"They fought like Heroes, Long and Well, and Then like Heroes died."

Used in 1910






I scanned the bottom two postcards together - if anyone knows anything about the original painting these come from, please comment.



I'm feeling sad but grateful to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country.

Presidents in Seattle

Happy President's Day!

The first President of the U. S. of A. to travel west of the Rockies while in office was Rutherford B. Hayes. Read more at HistoryLink. According to HistoryLink, he visited Seattle in 1880.
According to my postcard, he was here in 1881

"President Hayes addressing Seattle's entire population in 1881 where Hotel Seattle now stands c. 1911"

U.S. President Warren G. Harding makes his last speech in Seattle on July 27, 1923. Read more at HistoryLink
My Grandmother-in-Law, Maren Nielsen Andersen, snapped this photo of his car


Many more Presidents have come out to Seattle - I'm enjoying seeing the photos others are sharing.

Thanksgiving Greetings

Were Thanksgiving postcards more common a century ago?  Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier every year - I don't know if I've noticed Thanksgiving cards for sale amongst all the Christmas décor. 

Of course I love these charming vintage postcards depicting colorful turkeys, bounty, fall leaves and pilgrims:

"Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving" Mailed November 1907


"Thanksgiving Greetings" Mailed October 1908?


"A Glad Thanksgiving" Mailed October 1912


"Thanksgiving Greeting" mailed November 1923


"Thanksgiving Joys" undated

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Election Day

As much as I dislike the campaign season, I'm still very grateful for the privilege to vote.  I was eighteen in time for the 1980 presidential election and it was the last time I recall the big old-fashioned election booth that you walked inside and pulled a large lever to close a curtain behind you (which brings to mind for me the "Wizard" in the Wizard of Oz).  And then there were dozens of small levers to select your candidate or vote for or against an issue.
Thankfully we have more choices in each row

Life Savers
October 15, 1956 Life Magazine

A few more Election season ads from 1956 - recognize the artist? I read several children's books to my own kids by this illustrator

Eagleknit (Eloise Wilkin)
October 15, 1956 Life Magazine


Chase & Sanborn
October 15, 1956 Life Magazine

So Americans - Get out and vote!

Burial Flag

My Mother-in-Law, Viola Andersen Robertson, was given a burial flag when my Father-in-Law, Walter Stanley Robertson who served in the US Navy was interred at Tahoma National Cemetery in 1998.


She passed away a year-and-a-half later in 2000 and is interred with him.


The burial flag has since been in the possession of my Brother-in-Law who served during Vietnam.  Last month, their home was destroyed by the Taylor Bridge fire in Cle Elum, WA..  We are so very grateful my Brother-and-Sister-in-Law are safe; my Brother-in-Law was told to evacuate only fifteen minutes before their home went up.  It gives me chills.  Almost all their worldly possession are gone.  But when my Sister-in-Law blew out her birthday candle earlier this week, she said, "I have nothing to wish for because I still have everything that really matters to me."

A couple of weeks ago I thought I would contact someone from VFW Post 1373 Douglas A Munro Post in Cle Elum. Burial Flags are not replaced by the Veteran's Administration but their website said that often local VFW posts can do that.  At the post's last meeting, they agreed to replace Walt's burial flag.  The contact person seemed honored and excited to be able to do this for our family.  This flag was used in another veteran's funeral but for some reason they ended up with two so when I contacted him, he felt it was meant to be for us to have it.  We drove to Cle Elum today to pick up the new burial flag.  It's not the same thing as the original given to my Mother-in-Law, but we are thrilled and humbled to have a flag that was given to our family in honor of Walt's service and life.

The Marines' Hymn

I have a stack of old sheet music of my grandmother's. I wanted to share The Marines' Hymn in honor of Memorial Day Weekend.


copyright MCMXLII - 1942

I was not familiar with the second verse

This is the back cover the score - I think it'd be very cool to have old sheet music of the Star Spangled Banner!


The Armed Forces Hymnal is also with the collection of family music. I'll have to ask my Dad if it was from when he was in the army in the late 50s early 60s since there is no date on the inside. The table of contents lists a Catholic Section, Jewish Section and Protestant Section.


Please take time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom.

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms

My daughter is in Washington DC with a group of other Junior High students.  It is the midst of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Washington DC is celebrating one hundred years of the gift of trees.

In 1912, an incredible gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees was bestowed on Washington, DC by Tokyo, Japan. Rooted strongly and surviving outside elements, the trees have withstood the test of time

I still don't know if my daughter will get to (or has already) participated in any of the cherry blossom festivities.  But here are some vintage Washington DC cherry blossom ads that will have to hold me over until I can hear about her trip.
Pepsi Cola

April 13, 1959 Life Magazine


Kodak film

April 5, 1963 Life Magazine

George Washington

At first I didn't think I had any vintage ads with George Washington like I did for President Lincoln.  And then I remembered that I have a July/August 1976 Bicentennial edition of the Saturday Evening Post and found several where he's featured







The introduction to this edition of the magazine features a painting by Norman Rockwell captioned

"Norman Rockwell painted a sign painter replacing George III with America's own George, Washington, a symbolic changing of the guard which would alter man's thinking both in the palace and in the street. This appeared in the February 22, 1936 Post."

President George isn't usually used in many ads but of course he was featured in several during the Bicentennial.

And then ads with cherries remind me of GW.  I know the story is considered lore but it is a worthy one speaking the virtues of telling the truth (Excerpt taken from here )

"When George," said she, "was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet! of which, like most little boys, he was immoderately fond, and was constantly going about chopping every thing that came in his way. One day, in the garden, where he often amused himself hacking his mother's pea-sticks, he unluckily tried the edge of his hatchet on the body of a beautiful young English cherry-tree, which he barked so terribly, that I don't believe the tree ever got the better of it. The next morning the old gentleman finding out what had befallen his tree, which, by the by, was a great favourite, came into the house, and with much warmth asked for the mischievous author, declaring at the same time, that he would not have taken five guineas for his tree. Nobody could tell him any thing about it. Presently George and his hatchet made their appearance. George, said his father, do you know who killed that beautiful little cherry-tree yonder in the garden? This was a tough question; and George staggered under it for a moment; but quickly recovered himself: and looking at his father, with the sweet face of youth brightened with the inexpressible charm of all-conquering truth, he bravely cried out, "I can't tell a lie, Pa; you know I can't tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet."--Run to my arms, you dearest boy, cried his father in transports, run to my arms; glad am I, George, that you killed my tree; for you have paid me for it a thousand fold. Such an act of heroism in my son, is more worth than a thousand trees, though blossomed with silver, and their fruits of purest gold.

Cherry Cherie Foremost Ice Cream

February 15, 1960 Life Magazine
Carnation Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream

February 1, 1963 Life Magazine
Swanson Frozen Fruit Pies

March 18, 1957 Life Magazine

My post was to wish George Washington a "Happy Birthday" on his birthday February 22 but I just learned he was actually born February 11th according to this website!

Q: Why is Washington's birthday celebrated on February 22 when he was born on February 11th?
A: February 11th was GW's birthday according to the Julian (Old Style) calendar, but in 1752, the corrections of the Gregorian (New Style) Calendar were adopted by England, Ireland, and the colonies, and GW's birthday became 22 February [Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds., The Diaries of George Washington, vol. VI, January 1790–December 1799 (Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1979) 282.]
Under England's interpretation of the Julian Calendar the new year began on 25 March. Because the year under the Julian Calendar was 365 days 6 hours, by the sixteenth century a considerable surplus had accumulated, moving the vernal equinox from 21 to 11 March. The error was corrected in 1582 by the Gregorian Calendar (New Style), adopted by most European countries. By 1752, when Great Britain adopted the Gregorian Calendar, the displacement was 11 days.[Donald Jackson, ed., The Diaries of George Washington, vol. I, 1748-65 (Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1976), 6.]

So happy belated 280th birthday George!