Uncle Sam - 1813 Troy, NY - Sam Wilson, owner of a meat processing plant, provided meat to the US War Department during the War of 1812. He would stamp the meat with the initials "U.S." Plant workers joked that the "U.S." stood for "Uncle Sam". The name stuck and Uncle Sam became associated with patriotism and support for the US, especially during times of war and national crisis. The character of Uncle Sam grew to the now mythical proportions of the white bearded, red - white - and - blue clad symbol of America.