The United States Army: Then, Now, Forever
Recruiting-style painting: a laurel-crowned woman in white with a raised wreath and flag over a column of seven rifle-bearing soldiers in uniforms from the Revolution to 1940, above the scroll 'Then - Now - Forever'. The allegorical figure and flag lend history's prestige to the present army (transfer); the claim is abstract (glittering generalities).
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1940
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army (artist Tom Woodburn; printer Spurgeon Tucker, New York)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Recruit
- Theme
- War and the military
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-242 (NAID 513684).
Text on the object
The UNITED STATES ARMY THEN ~ NOW ~ FOREVER [signature: Tom Woodburn] [imprint: Spurgeon Tucker, New York] [imprint: P-14—10-15-40—25M]
