The Spirit of America - American Red Cross Poster

This powerful World War I poster by famed illustrator Howard Chandler Christy portrays a Red Cross nurse as the idealized "Spirit of America." Dressed in white, wrapped in the U.S. flag, and holding a banner, she embodies patriotic service, purity, and resolve.

The Red Cross relied heavily on public support and volunteers during the war. Posters like this called on Americans—especially women—to "join" the humanitarian cause by becoming nurses, sewing bandages, or donating time and money. It was both a call to action and a symbol of how service became a form of national pride.