LEWISBURG — Though he’s usually the tallest person in Lewisburg’s annual Fourth of July parade, “Uncle Sam” was of normal height this year.
Art Bunce, who portrays Uncle Sam while striding down the street on stilts, was recovering from surgery this year and couldn’t walk on stilts. But he was there nonetheless, walking and handing out thousands of pieces of candy to children along the route.
Bunce, a retired federal prison guard, has become such a fixture in Lewisburg’s parade since he first donned his signature red, white and blue outfit in 1998 that he’s one of the first people the parade committee contacts each year.
“I look forward to doing the Lewisburg parade every year,” he said.
“It’s not a Fourth of July parade without Uncle Sam,” according to Graham Showalter, parade chairman.
Bunce receives many requests to portray Uncle Sam in parades, but Lewisburg’s is one he doesn’t want to miss.
He started out portraying a much different character, however. His first foray into parading on stilts was as the monster Frankenstein in 1996. He also wore a clown costume in several parades that year. He’s marched in parades in Danville, Northumberland, Sunbury and Watsontown in the monster and clown outfits.
His wife, Donna, custom sews his costumes.
“When he was first asked to be Uncle Sam in April 1998, I made his costume in two days,” she said.
Bunce learned to walk on stilts as a young man, when he worked as a drywall hanger.
“I strapped them on, and once I got up, I didn’t have any trouble,” he recalled. “It’s just like walking normally.”
The only time he has difficulty, he said, is when he can’t see his feet. He recalled falling only once.
“When I do parades, sometimes I’ll walk up to some old people sitting on a porch and give them some candy,” he said. “I did that one night in Watsontown, and I forgot about the curb when I walked back to the parade, so down I went. I got right back up, though.”
Bunce enjoys his role.
“I do it for the kids,” he said. “I really enjoy doing things for little kids.”
In the course of the Lewisburg parade, Bunce and his wife, who sometimes accompanies him dressed as the Statue of Liberty, distribute 4,000 pieces of candy.
“We donate it all,” he said. “I have three people who replenish my candy supply along the route.”
He used to carry the candy in a basket, but his wife got him an old-fashioned bank bag and sewed play money around it.
After the parades, Bunce enjoys going to restaurants such as Dunkin Donuts and Wendy’s to greet astonished children and adults. He used to walk to Lewisburg’s Dunkin Donuts after the parade, but now he rides in the back of a pickup so he doesn’t have to take off his stilts after each stop.
“I can’t acknowledge everyone who yells or waves while I’m in the parade,” he explained.
The making of Uncle Sam
The term “Uncle Sam” for the United States evolved from Samuel Wilson, a government meat inspector from Troy, N.Y. During the War of 1812, Wilson, who was known as Uncle Sam, saw barrels of meat stamped U.S. (for United States). Someone asked him what the initials meant, and he jokingly replied, “Uncle Sam.” Wilson was well-known for his fairness, reliability and devotion to his country, qualities passed on to the mythical Uncle Sam.
The term became to symbolize the United States, and in 1861, a drawing in a Washington, D.C., newspaper first showed a character wearing a starred hat and striped shirt. In 1869, the famed political cartoonist Thomas Nast depicted Uncle Sam as a tall man wearing a top hat, striped trousers and chin whiskers, which has become the “standard” image of Uncle Sam.
The cover of Leslie’s Weekly Magazine of July 6, 1916, by James Montgomery Flagg, became the most famous image of Uncle Sam. More than 4 million posters of that image were made during 1917-18.
News
Related Photos
-
Matthew Harris/The Daily Item
Discussion
Uncle Sam: Retired prison guard has a tall feat
- News
-
-
Raw milk remains popular, despite illnesses
WASHINGTON — The popularity of unpasteurized raw milk remains strong despite warnings from public health officials about its dangers and outbreaks of bacterial infections. In the latest case untreated contaminated milk from a Pennsylvania farm has sickened 38 people on the East Coast. It's a reminder of the risks of consuming milk bottled straight from the cow.
-
State Supreme Court explains legislative redistricting decision
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court today explained its reasons for rejecting the state's legislative redistricting plan last week, and a justice who disagreed with the ruling said this year's races will have to be held under the existing, decade-old maps.
-
Heinz Endowments fund Flight 93 oral histories
PITTSBURGH — A project to compile oral histories of those connected to the crash of hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 will continue for at least the next three years due to a $225,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments.
-
LARA looks ahead
LEWISBURG -- The Lewisburg Community Pool and spring and summer schedule of events are the big concerns these days for those running the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority. Officials are confident they finally have the regional recreation authority's financial situation under control.
-
Wirth not first driver to face murder charge
LEWISBURG -- Christopher Wirth isn't the first person to face a third-degree murder charge in connection with a fatal crash in Union County. "A death involving a vehicle can support third-degree murder depending on the acts of the subject," District Attorney D. Peter Johnson said Thursday.
-
Bumpy ride for prison officers
SUNBURY -- It's been a rough week for two Northumberland County Prison commanders who were suspended without pay, had their wages reinstated, were laid off and then rehired. On Monday, Brian Wheary was suspended without pay from his $36,030-a-year position as commander. By Thursday, the 37-year-old was back on the job.
-
Reality TV star ready for visit
SHAMOKIN -- Ron Shirley has never been to Shamokin, has never been to the Valley at all, but he has an idea of what's waiting for him here. "The only thing I expect is to meet friendly, honest people," said Shirley, a star of the hit Tru TV reality series, "Lizard Lick Towing."
-
Masser to seek 2nd term
ELYSBURG -- State Rep. Kurt Masser, a Republican from Elysburg, announced Thursday that he will seek a second term representing the 107th Legislative District in the state House. "I am pleased to announce that I will be seeking a second term to represent the people of our area," he said. "We've accomplished a lot in our first term, but there is so much more to do. I want to keep being an independent voice for our community in Harrisburg."
-
West Milton man arraigned on robbery charges
A West Milton man is the second suspect in an armed robbery at a West Buffalo Township convenience store Saturday night. Michael Gulli, 41, of 310 Broad St., was arrested by Milton state police who said Gulli was involved in pointing a gun at two employees of the Forest Hill Store, on Buffalo Road, in Union County, and threatening to kill them.
-
Show guns for 1,500
LEWISBURG -- Hundreds of long rifles and other Colonial weapons that helped win the Revolutionary War and forge a nation will be on display -- and some, for sale -- today through Saturday at the fifth annual 18th Century Artisan Show.
-
VIDEO: Social media command center helps Super Bowl visitors
Indianapolis is the first Super Bowl host city to utilize the power of Twitter and other social media to help football fans get the most out of football's biggest event.
-
Tim Burns drops out of U.S. Senate race
HARRISBURG — An entrepreneur from southwestern Pennsylvania is dropping out of the race for U.S. Senate now that the Republican Party has endorsed another candidate.
- More News Headlines
-
