Framed Spirit of 1917, Join the U.S. Marines by Leon Alaric Shafer

Spirit of 1917 – Join the U.S. Marines by Leon Alaric Shafer is a powerful World War I recruitment poster that channels urgency, patriotism, and martial pride. The composition typically features a resolute U.S. Marine, often advancing forward with rifle and fixed bayonet, embodying strength, discipline, and readiness for combat. Behind or around him, symbolic elements such as the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor reinforce the identity and tradition of the United States Marine Corps. Created in response to America’s entry into World War I in 1917, the poster appeals directly to young men’s sense of duty and honor, presenting enlistment as both a personal calling and a national necessity. Its bold imagery and direct message exemplify the persuasive visual language of wartime propaganda, designed to inspire immediate action and reinforce the heroic image of the Marine Corps.