With a replica of the Liberty Bell in the background proclaiming the message "Buy War Bonds," citizens of a small town salute the American flag as it is raised at a park during a War Bond Rally in 1943. Between 30 November 1942, and 8 December 1945, the U.S. government staged eight war loan drives, raising a total of $156 billion. Announcements for war loan drives appeared in magazines and on posters, the advertising for the 5th War Loan Drive alone totaling over $42 million dollars, all of it donated.

Image in the collection of the Frankin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

In addition to being a conflict of arms, World War II was a war waged with words, not only in propaganda designed to affect the enemy's will to fight, but also in the public relations effort geared toward citizens on the home front. To this end, the Office of War Information issued hundreds of patriotic-themed posters designed to inspire Americans to support the war effort through buying war bonds and rationing. They also warned of the dangers of careless talk, the admonition on one famous one reading "Loose Lips Sink Ships." Armed Forces recruiting posters like this one painted by McClelland Barclay, one of a host of commercial artists called to active duty, inspired recruits to join up.

A line of recruits awaits the opportunity to stand in front of a table and sign up to be one of the "First to Fight" at a recruiting station for the Marine Corps, 1942. Over sixteen million Americans served in uniform during World War II, with 73 percent of them serving abroad. By war's end, over 400,000 of them had lost their lives and over 670,000 had been wounded.

Image in the collection of the Library of Congress

During World War II it was not uncommon for servicemen and those they loved to exchange sweetheart jewelry as reminders of one another while they were separated. This example from the museum's collection features a blue star flag in the middle, which during the war hung in the windows of homes that had a relative serving in uniform. Gold star flags hung in households who had lost loved ones in the war.