Today we celebrate the day we declared ourselves an independent nation. For some that means a day off work, cookouts and pool parties with family and friends and topped off with an evening of fireworks, but it's also a day to remember the ideals that this country was founded on. The three images I selected to showcase perfectly capture a few of those ideals. The most recognizable image of "Uncle Sam" we know today was created by James Montgomery Flagg in 1917 as a recruiting poster for World War I. The next image of "Rosie the Riveter" was created by J. Howard Miller in 1943 to inspire and rally together the war effort here at home. The final image, by Norman Rockwell, also first appeared in 1943. Like Rosie, it was designed to inspire people at home to support the war effort. Though all three posters were created during times of war and great hardship, their messages are no less powerful and inspirational today, and the ideals they represent should never be forgotten.