For your country's sake today...

Very interesting postcard recieved  by a private facebook swap with Molly. She was on holidays in Fort Sumter/Fort Moultrie in South Carolina.  It was a World War II-era recruitment poster by Steele Savage from 1944.

Here is a little bit form Wikipedia about the American posters from II WW:


The U.S. used posters more than any other method of broadcasting propaganda, and produced more propaganda posters than any other country fighting in World War II. Almost 200,000 different designs were printed during the war.


The Office of War Information (OWI) Bureau of Graphics was the government division in charge of producing and distributing these advertisements. The feature that distinguished the United States poster propaganda from British and other allied propaganda was that the advertisements remained primarily positive in their messages. The United States focused on duty, patriotism and tradition where other countries were focusing on fueling the people's hate for the enemy. These positive messages were used to increase the production of the home front instead of insuring that the "money raised was not lost". Posters rarely used images of war casualties, and battlefield scenes became less popular, being replaced by commercial images to satisfy the "consumer" need for the war.


Posters used a number of themes to encourage support for the war including conservation, production, recruiting, home efforts, and secrecy. Posters were placed in areas lacking paid advertisements. The most common areas were post offices, railroad stations, schools, restaurants, and retail stores. Smaller posters were printed for the windows of private homes and apartment buildings. These regions were places where other propaganda forms could not be deployed.


The war posters were not designed by the government but by artists who received no compensation for their work. Different government-run organizations held competitions for artists to produce their best war time design in order to enlarge the number of designs that they could choose from.

Worldwide stamps

That collage of stamps from my cards makes me want to take part in Chain Postcard RR. I saw some examples and it looks soooo cool! I guess I'll try it in October when I move to my new place :)

Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system known in the world located in Edmonson Country, Kentucky. The labirynth is 591 km long and it's on UNESCO WTS since 1981. There are few lakes, rivers and waterfalls including Echo River located 110 meters under the ground. The cave is a home for various species of bats, insects, fish... I don't even want to imagine what creatures live there... brrr

Statue of Liberty

I've got this card some time ago from a penpal who was in NY for holidays. Statue of Liberty is probably the most famous statue in the world. Designed by Federic Auguste Bartholdi, it was firstly named Liberty Enlightening th World. As many of you probably know it was a gift from France to the United States. It's 93 meters high and it weights 204 tonnes.

Mount St. Helens

The mountain that can be seen here is actually an active stratovolcano located in Washington State and it's famous for an eruption from 18th of May1980. 72 people were killed, 250 homes, 47 bridges, railways and highways were destroyed... The most destructive volcano eruption in the US ever! 

Golden Gate again

The Mighty Task is Done

Written upon completion of the building of the Bridge in May 1937

At last the mighty task is done;
Resplendent in the western sun
The Bridge looms mountain high;Its titan piers grip ocean floor,
Its great steel arms link shore with shore,
Its towers pierce the sky.

On its broad decks in rightful pride,
The world in swift parade shall ride,
Throughout all time to be;
Beneath, fleet ships from every port,
Vast landlocked bay, historic fort,
And dwarfing all--the sea.

To north, the Redwood Empire's gates;
'To south, a happy playground waits,
in Rapturous appeal;
Here nature, free since time began,
Yields to the restless moods of man,
Accepts his bonds of steel.

Launched midst a thousand hopes and fears,
Damned by a thousand hostile sneers,
Yet ne'er its course was stayed,
But ask of those who met the foe
Who stood alone when faith was low,
Ask them the price they paid.

Ask of the steel, each strut and wire,
Ask of the searching, purging fire,
That marked their natal hour;
Ask of the mind, the hand, the heart,
Ask of each single, stalwart part,
What gave it force and power.

An Honored cause and nobly fought
And that which they so bravely wrought,
Now glorifies their deed,
No selfish urge shall stain its life,
Nor envy, greed, intrigue, nor strife,
Nor false, ignoble creed.

High overhead its lights shall gleam,
Far, far below life's restless stream,
Unceasingly shall flow;
For this was spun its lithe fine form,
To fear not war, nor time, nor storm,
For Fate had meant it so.

Gateway Arch

Postcard from Kristi 

The purpose of building the Gateway Arch were numerous. First, it was built with a vision of being an avant-garde construction, that would symbolize architectural expression of simplicity and modernity. Second, in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Historic Site, to memorialize the role of Thomas Jefferson and others responsible for the America's territorial expansion to the west. Third, was the decision related to building it in St.Louis. It was done to acknowledge the importance of St. Louis's citizens in the settling of the west, and finally, to revitalize the deteriorating riverfront. All these reasons contributed to the Gateway Arch construction.

The Gateway Arch is a perfect blend of beauty and modern architectural styling. Millions of tourists visit it annually, not only to view this marvel, but take its tram ride, that is of only a four minutes way up to the top. 
On the postcard we can see the panorama of St. Luis and Gateway Arch dominating the view.

Kentucky

Postcrossing official US-1135051

I recieved that beautiful card from Amy and Ella via postcrossing. Kentucky is actually a commonwealth (only 3 more- Virginia, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are constituted as a commonwealth). The state was a part of Virginia but since 1792 it became the 15ths state to join the Union. Amy mentioned in the card that Kentucky is known as Bluegrass State due to the fact that bluegrass covers many of the pastures in the state. In my opinion the state could be known as 'deer and turkey state' as the number od those animals per person is the highest in the whole States. Kentucky is known for coalmining, horse racing, throughbres horses, bourbon, bluegrass music and tobacco. The name of the state (as in many other cases) comes  from native tribes. One of the biggest tourist attractions is Mammoth Cave National Park but  I will write about it soon as I recieved another wonderfull postcard showing one of the caves :) If I ever go to Kentucky I'll surely visit Cumberland Falls State Park due to moonbows or lunar rainbows that can be regulary seen over there! Johny Depp was born in Kentucky <3

Mickey salutes America!

Funny postcard from Kristi who got to be my new penpal !

The birth of Mickey Mouse occurred on a cross-country train ride (a four day journey) in early 1928. Walt was returning from a business meetingalong with his wife. At the age of 26, and with an active cartoon studio in Hollywood, Walt had set out to arrange for a new contract for his creation, Oswald the Rabbit, but the backers turned him down. As they owned the copyright, they took control, leaving Walt with nothing. To prepare to announce the unpleasant news to workers back home, Walt gave birth to a sympathetic mouse that he first named, "Mortimer". By the end of the ride, which concluded in Los Angeles, Lillian Disney suggested to her husband that the first name was too stuffy. He was renamed, "Mickey." Walt and his head animator, Ub Iwerks, soon completed their first Mickey Mouse cartoon, "Plane Crazy." But no distributor would buy the film. Not one to quit, Walt produced a second silent Mickey Mouse cartoon, called "Gallopin' Gaucho." It was less than a year since Warner Brothers had introduced the talkies with Al Jolson as the "Jazz Singer" (late 1927). In 1928, Walt Disney began work on his third Mickey Mouse cartoon, this time a talkie, entitled, "Steamboat Willie." To add sound to the film, Walt had to take the animated portion to New York since West Coast studies did not have the equipment. The young man invested everything he had into the film, and when it was completed, Walt screened it for New York exhibitors. (Written here)

The U.S. project combo

private swap from Jean-Claude

Arkansas is bounded on the north by Missouri; on the east by the Mississippi River, which separates it from Mississippi and Tennessee; on the south by Louisiana; and on the west by the plains of Oklahoma and Texas. In size, it stands 27th among the states, with an area of 53,187 square miles. Of these, over 600,000 acres are lakes with 9,740 miles of streams.   The term Arkansas means south wind and is derived from a name used by some Native Americans to describe the Quapaws, an early tribe in the area. The French Jesuits pronounced the tribe name Oo-gaq-pa, which the Algonquins pronounced Oo-ka-na-sa, and Marquette wrote Arkansoa; LaSalle wrote Arkensa; DeTonti, Arkancas; and LaHarpe, Arkansas. When the state was admitted to the Union in 1836, it was spelled Arkansas. The legislature of 1881 appointed a committee to ascertain the rightful pronunciation of the last syllable, and the result was a resolution declaring the pronunciation to be Ark-an-saw.

private swap from Jean-Claude

North Carolina is the country's largest furniture, tobacco, brick and textile producer. Another important industries are metalworking, chemicals and paper. The agriculture is based on tobacco, corn, cotton, hay, peanuts and vegetable crops. For tourists the most interesting are Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway, Cape Hatteras Nationa Seashores, National Military Parks...

Postcrossing official US-1112669

Michigan- Great Lakes Region. Even the name of the state means large water -mishigamaa in Ojibwe- the indigenous language. The state has 64,980 inland lakes and ponds. It is also the only state consisting entirely of two peninsulas. No wonder there is a fisherman on the postcard. By the way- this is my first official postcrossing postcard :)

Postcard from my friend Ulbert 

Welcome to the mountain west! Arizona is the 48th state and last of the contiguous states admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912. Arizona is noted for its desert climate, exceptionally hot summers, and mild winters. In addition to the Grand Canyon, many other national forests, parks, and monuments are located in the state, while more than a quarter of its territory is Federal Trust Land which serves as the home of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi tribe, the Tohono O'odham and Apache people and various Yuman tribes, such as the Yavapai, Quechan and Hualapai.

Sent by Dustin

The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State or OSU, is a public research university located in Columbus. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States. Ohio State currently has over 425,000 living alumni located around the world. Ohio State alumni include Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and Medal of Honor recipients, ambassadors, as well as Fortune 500 CEOs and members of the Forbes 400 list of the world's wealthiest individuals.

Hello Wisconsin

Wisconsin is located in the north-central United States. It's capital is Madison, and its largest city is Milwaukee. I'm not really in writting mood so I will just tell that secret polish plan for colonizing the worldworks fine in Wisconsin because 9,3% of people there are Polish or have Polish ancestors and that's the highest percentage of  residents from my country of any state :)

Postcard from Jean-Claude

I like that postcard and there are few reasons for that. First at all it's a US card of the state I haven't had. The other reason is the map as I find map cards very interesting. This one is beautiful and I think that Wisconsin's coat of arms is awesome! And there is another reason why "Wisconsn" on the card made me smile... I used to watch a lot of  'That's '70s Show' and it takes places in fictional town in Wisconsin state ;) So I thought of recalling some memorable quotes from the TV show ;)

Fez: Cake is good, but you can not have sex with cake.
Kelso:Cause my mind is always doing stuff I don't even know aboutKitty Forman: Sex, it's not dirty.Red Forman: It's not clean either.Kitty Forman: All families are embarrassing. If they aren't embarrassing they're dead.Eric: I know when I go to hospital i like to NOT die.

Golden Gate

I love direct swaps! That way I can recieve postcards that I really want. This time I only said I'd like the Golden Gate postcard as it's the most recognizable bridge in the world. I didn't expect much- this is the first direct swap I've recieved. I got really beautiful postcard and I just love it!

Scan of the postcard is not amazing. It is printed on a satin-like paper and it's really beautiful. The only thing that I don't like are those bleached stains... But I like to believe that it gives the postcard character ;)


Golden Gate Bridge is a sunspention bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin Country in California, the USA. It's located on Golden Gate-the opening of San Francisco Bay into the Pacific. It was being built from 1933 to 1937. A lot of experts claimed that there are no technical possibilities of building it across over 2000m. Joseph Strauss was an engeenier responsible for the project but very important influence on the construction and design had also Irving Morrow, Leon Moissieff (constructor of the Manhattan Bridge in NY) and Charles Ellis.


Each of the lines used has a diameter of almost 1 meter and can handle 95 tons. Total lenght is 2,788m and it's 27 m wide. Total weight of Bridge, anchorages, and approaches: 887,000 tons. The towers are 227 high.

The characteristical orange colour (international orange) was orginally the colour of the sealant.The Us Navy wanted to paint the bridge with black and yellow stripes! It was an ensurrance of visibility for passing ships. Can you imagine it like that? It would be a crime! Choosing orange was definietly better idea-The Golden Gate Bridge was ranked 5th on the List of America's Favourite Architecture.


The Bridge was closed only 3 times since it was opened due to strong winds and it survived many strong earthquakes. The dark side of the bridge is the number of suicides commited there which is the hightes number among all of the bridges. There are many methods used to defcrease that number such as hotlines, staff patrols, closing the bridge at night and special barriers.

On the 27th of May Golden Gate Bridge will have 74th anniversary of creation!

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state, behind Alaska, with an area of 268,820 square miles (696,200 km2). It is located in the south-central part of the United States of America and it has the most farms and the highest acreage in the country.Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States, while San Antonio is the second largest in the state and seventh largest in the United States. Dallas–Fort Worth and Greater Houston are the fourth and sixth largest United States metropolitan areas, respectively. Other major cities include El Paso and Austin—the state capital. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State to signify Texas as an independent republic and as a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico. The "Lone Star" can be found on the Texas State Flag and on the Texas State Seal today.

Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault, Texas contains diverse landscapes that resemble both the AmericanSouth and Southwest. Although Texas is popularly associated with the Southwestern deserts, less than 10% of the land area is desert.Most of the population centers are located in areas of former prairies, grasslands, forests, and the coastline. Traveling from east to west, one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods, to rolling plains and rugged hills, and finally thedesert and mountains of the Big Bend.

The term "six flags over Texas" came from the several nations that had ruled over the territory. Spain was the first European country to claim the area of Texas. France held a short-lived colony in Texas. Mexico controlled the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence, becoming an independent Republic. In 1845 it joined the United States as the 28th state. The state's annexation set off a chain of events that caused the Mexican–American War in 1846. A slave state, Texas declared its secession from the United States in early 1861, joining the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. After the war and its restoration to the Union, Texas entered a long period of economic stagnation. (wikipedia)

The postcard is from Austin and it shows the Capitol Building. It was designed originally during 1881 by architect Elijah E. Myers, and was constructed beginning 1882–88 by direction of civil engineer Reuben Lindsay Walker. The Texas State Capitol was ranked ninety-second in the "America's Favorite Architecture" poll commissioned by the American Institute of Architects, that ranked the top hundred-and-fifty favorite architectural projects in America as of 2007. In a 2008 poll by the AIA, it was also ranked the number-one state capitol.

The only problem with the postcard is the white paper with a code. My friend who sent it to me forgot to leave empty space under the adress bar. I'm afraid of removing it because it could destroy the postcrad.  But even that doesn't change the fact that I really like that postcard! Thank you  Chris!


EDIT:I finally removed that stripe! I was afraid of  damaging the postcard but I was able to manage it ;)

New York City Baby!

'Magic, simply magic' as my friend said it on the postcard or dangerous metropoly where 'storing your car is safer than entering it in a demolition derby. But not much.'
I'm not sure. I have never been to NY yet. Waiting till I don't need visa for visiting the US but taking into consideration our diplomacy powers it will take some time... 
Anyway that postcard is wonderful and I'm closer to agree with my friend that there is something magical in it.


Manhattan Bridge is suspension bridge connecting Lower Manhattan with Brooklyn. Build in 1909 it was the third of the suspension bridges across the lower East River ( what a terribe name for the river!)
The designer, Leon Moisseiff later on designed Tacoma Narrows Bridge that collapsed in 1940 (the year it was built in)

I live in the city of bridges and probably that's the reason why I like them. I want to learn more about types, construction and history of the bridges over the world. I guess the learning will start with more bridges postcards being sent to me :)