| Red, white and blue are the three most common | | | | come from the red, white and blue of the flag unite us |
| colors that remind Americans of our heritage and stir | | | | in a desire for freedom for all. |
| patriotic feelings. These wonderful feelings are also | | | | Often it is just some small reminder of what we enjoy. |
| stirred by other symbols such as monuments, flags | | | | Imagine your car with a Pride in America Bumper |
| and yes-even bumper stickers! | | | | Sticker on the back. Can't you just feel the patriotism |
| One of the world's most recognizable icons is the | | | | flowing from the red, white and blue? We all know that |
| Statue of Liberty. It is a symbol representing the United | | | | a bumper sticker is an adhesive tag with a statement |
| States and new freedom that many emigrants | | | | or symbol of some sort meant to be attached to the |
| experienced when they came to this country. The tall, | | | | bumper of your car. It is there to be read by the |
| stately statue was the first and most memorable | | | | occupants of other vehicles. Bumper stickers can be |
| introduction to the United States as they came through | | | | political, funny, or they can be used to support the |
| New York harbor. For many Americans it embodies | | | | troops at war or even your favorite team. They can |
| patriotism. | | | | make you laugh or tick you off, but where did they |
| During an election year, Americans are frequently | | | | come from in the first place? |
| divided into "red" states and "blue" states depending on | | | | No one has recorded their history, but since they must |
| their political stance. Opinions can split us but our | | | | have a bumper they did not come into existence |
| patriotic heritage can serve to unify us. While we are | | | | before the introduction of the car bumper. The Ford |
| involved in a war and in local elections, (which can feel | | | | Model A introduced in 1927 had bumpers. It seems that |
| like a war!) it may be timely for reminders of who we | | | | the first bumper stickers appeared shortly before |
| are and where we came from. Emma Lazarus' poem | | | | World War II; they were flag-like and attached to the |
| does this and so does the Statue of Liberty. | | | | bumper by wires. After WWII bumper stickers |
| The poem "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus | | | | became useful in political campaigns and elections. |
| was engraved on a plaque at the base of the statue. | | | | Advertisers grasped the concept for commercial |
| In its famous final lines, it says: | | | | purposes and then came the wide application to use |
| Give me your tired, your poor, | | | | them for all kinds of slogans, often just for a laugh. So |
| Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, | | | | who's idea was it to make them "stick"? |
| The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. | | | | The man is Forest P. Gill, a silk screen printer from |
| Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, | | | | Kansas City. Gill realized the possibilities of replacing |
| I lift my lamp beside the golden door! | | | | the bumper wire attachment method. He invented the |
| Flags are another symbol of American patriotic feeling. | | | | modern bumper sticker which is in use today. His |
| Many American's displayed the red, white and blue of | | | | bumper stickers were more practical and their use |
| the flag during the dark days after September 11. | | | | became more widespread. So, next time you feel |
| The colors were a visible reminder of the freedom | | | | tickled, annoyed or the patriotism surge from the red, |
| that we enjoy in this country. A freedom our | | | | white and blue bumper stickers, thank Mr. Gill. We can |
| forefather's gave their very lives for. Elections | | | | be united by all kinds of things such as monuments, |
| occasionally divide us, but the patriotic feeling which | | | | flags and yes-even bumper stickers! |