Vic Guinnell, To Have and to Hold! War Bonds, 1944, poster, 27 7/8 x 20 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art,
gift of Phillip M. Flammer.
Thursday, June 14th is Flag Day, a national holiday that commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which occurred on June 14, 1777. Since that time, artists have frequently used the image of the American flag in their artwork for a variety of purposes. The work featured today is a World War II poster, created by Vic Guinnell to encourage financial support of the war. A battle-worn soldier, with a ripped and dirty uniform, holds up an enormous American flag. To the side of the dramatic diagonal of the soldier’s arm, the slogan “To Have and To Hold” suggests that the freedom enjoyed in the United States should be cherished and is worth serious sacrifice. Posters such as these helped boost morale and urged citizens at home to buy war bonds.