The Samuel “Uncle Sam” statue in Arlington, Massachusetts, honors the man who may have inspired one of the most iconic American symbols. Sam Wilson was a meat packer who supplied the U.S. Army during the War of 1812, had his crates marked with the initials “U.S.” which soldiers jokingly called “Uncle Sam.” This association is said to have led to the bearded, top-hat-wearing figure of Uncle Sam a personification of the American spirit. (Whether this story is actually true is not known for sure.) The statue, installed during the United…
