a Soldier’s Thanksgiving, by J. C. Leyendecker. Saturday Evening Post Cover, December 8, 1917 1917

J. C. Leyendecker created this cover illustration for the Saturday Evening Post on December 8th, 1917. The smiling soldier is equipped with a rifle, steel helmet, and steaming coffee. He also carries a plate of food: a complete Thanksgiving dinner. What does it mean to show a soldier celebrating Thanksgiving in the middle of World War One? The Saturday Evening Post was a key institution of mass media in the early 20th century, and their covers provided a vital form of imagery for defining and directing public opinion. This cover speaks to the social conditions in which the war was taking place. In America, the idea of the "citizen soldier" was closely tied to the nation's identity. This image works to normalize the war and help make it a part of the lives of everyday Americans. Historians can examine this image and other publications and documents from the period to better understand the relationship between the war, the media, and American society.