Photograph of man wearing cowboy hat inside an illustration of a badge shape with red, white and blue stripes.  Blue and red text on a white background.

Actor James Arness played U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, the leading character in the Western television drama Gunsmoke. The TV series was set in Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. John Wayne, fellow actor and friend to Arness, recommended him for the role of Dillon. Gunsmoke ran for 20 seasons from 1955 to 1975. After the show ended, Arness starred in the Western TV series How the West Was Won and performed in Western movies. Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and died in 2011 at the age of 88 in Brentwood, California.

White text on a red and blue background

At the onset of WWI, townspeople all across the country desired to assist with the war effort.  In Kenosha, Wisconsin, a plan was implement which became known as the Kenosha Plan and their slogan was "Half-Hour a Week for War Relief." That plan proposed that all those participating would instruct their employers to deduct a half-hour’s wages from their weekly pay to be contributed to the Patriots Fund, and these dollars would then be matched by their employer.  In a town consisting of 43,000 residents, 14,000 participated which constituted nearly every household.  In one year they were able to raise over $330,000.00 for the war effort.  Other counties in Wisconsin followed suit, including Winnebago County.

Illustration of Jesus Christ with red text above and below on a white background.

This is most likely a reference to Valley Christian School (VCS), located in Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania. Their mission is to train students to become Christ-centered thinkers. In 1974, the Huntington Valley Presbyterian Church (HVPC) and a small group of parents founded VCS. It is a ministry of HVPC and operated by a School Board representing the Christian community. VCS stands as a living testament for the faithfulness of God. VCS trains students to think critically and develop a Christian mind through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's word.

Blue text and an illustration of a triangle on a white background

The War Savings Service (W.S.S.) was related to purchasing war savings stamps issued by the United States Treasury Department to help fund efforts in World War I and World War II. This button was intended to be worn by Americans to show their contribution from the home front during World War I. Wearing a button like this would indicate patriotism and generosity, and would serve to encourage others to participate in similar war efforts. The program also taught the benefits of thrift and saving. 

War saving stamps were first issued in 1917. The War Saving Certificate Stamp could be purchased for $4.12 between December 3, 1917 and January 31, 1918, and would be worth $5.00 when it reached maturity on January 1,1923 (the price of the stamp increased by one cent for each month after January 1918, until sales ended in December 1918). The Treasury issued a new series of stamps with the same interest rate and maturity in subsequent years, with the final series being issued in December of 1920. 

Photograph of smiling child against a black background with white text around the top of the button.

In the 1930s, Oral Society Juniors was club for children under 10 to take proper care of their teeth. Through charts and recordkeeping, parents learned about oral hygiene along with their children. The club was advertised in newspapers to gain more members. During Christmastime, dentists also made wooden toys for the kids to color. After being displayed in a local store, the hand-colored toys were given to the needy.

Blue and white illustration of a person next to blue text over a rectangle with a blue star inside that is all inside a rectangle with blue text avove and a shield below on a white background

When the United States entered the WW I in 1917, Army Captain Robert Queisser designed a flag to honor his sons fighting in the war. His flag had two blue stars, one for each son, on a white background with a red border. It was small enough to hang in the window. This service flag, as it was called, was endorsed by the mayor of Cleveland and the governor of Ohio. Service flags and service flag memorabilia were advertised in the October 1917 National Geographic.

Service flags returned in World War II and their symbolism formally codified. They were not popular during the Vietnam War, but they came back during the Gulf War. Service flags are still available, their manufacture and display being regulated by government code since 1967.

Illustration of a kid wearing a red hat and blue bow next to a brown dog on a white background with red text above and below

Richard F. Outcault created the Buster Brown comic strip character in 1902.  In the comic, Buster Brown is often accompanied by his dog, an America Pit Bull Terrier named Tige.  In 1904, Outcault sold the rights to use the character to the Brown Shoe Company, who adopted Buster Brown as their mascot.  The character was used extensively in their advertising campaigns, and over time Buster Brown became synonymous with children’s shoes. 

In 1944, a Buster Brown radio series began on the West Coast NBC Radio Network.  The show was hosted by Smilin Ed McConnell, and featured the Buster Brown Gang, which included Tige, Midnight the Cat, Froggy the Gremlin and Old Grand the Piano.  Children were encouraged to purchase Buster Brown shoes and join the gang by signing up for a membership, which included a free button, and other trinkets.

Illustration of American Flag surrounded by white text and 4 stars on a blue background.

Proud to be an American is a popular phrase for American nationalism. Lee Greenwood released the song “God Bless the USA” in 1984 furthering the popularity. Greenwood worked diligently to incorporate the foundation of the United States economic system and geography, and became a call to rally in pride of collective successes.

Illustration of a person waving a red flag with a cross and symbols with houses in the background and black border. 

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Illustration of a red apple with white text.  The two-letter "O"s are depicted as clothing buttons.  White background.

Percy E. Sutton was a lawyer, politician, and businessman. Sutton began his political career in the early 1950s. Having gone to law school and enrolled in the Air Force during the Korean War, Sutton was ready to begin a career in the middle of the civil rights movement. In 1965, Sutton, having already formed a personal and professional relationship with activist Malcolm X, litigated for his body after the assassination to ensure Malcolm X was buried properly. Sutton was the longest-serving Manhattan borough president and the highest-ranking black elected official for more than a decade in New York City, "the big apple." Sutton campaigned for mayor of New York City in 1977. Although Sutton did not win that election, later political figures credited him for helping to pave the way for their campaigns.