Jennifer Przybylo

Mrs. Sauer
American Literature
15 december 15
Fight to the End
One hundred years ago millions of Americans were fighting to suppress the rising
German country and to help their allies. Back at home American life was falling apart, and
almost all goods and services were going towards the war effort. In need of distractions from the
chaos, families would read magazines, or watch movies. The famous J.C. Leyendeckers artwork
was crawling all over newspapers, magazines, billboards, and people's homes. He often
contributed his artwork to the Saturday Evening Post magazine during World War One. When the
war concluded he painted a piece called The Great War Victory in the efforts to lift the citizens
chins even though there were great losses that came with the war. The art illustrated two sides
that represent two time periods; the beginning and end of the war. And hanging on to both sides
in an angel, distressed and unbroken. The meaning of The Great War Victory isnt to express the
victory, but to express the story of the war in a simple, yet straightforward way. J.C.
Leyendecker created this piece to display the reasoning for American involvement in the
war, the strides of growth we took to gain victory, and the end product of the countrys win.
The war is now taught in schools, including OHS, and is something that still affects our
daily lives.
The entrance of America in the war wasnt something our country took lightly; however
to honor our word in an agreement signed with Britain, France, Russia and Italy, America had to
join the war to ensure the countrys expansion and growth of protection that the other countries

provided to them. J.C Leyendecker illustrates the promises of America's agreement

wrapped around a sword, which symbolizes the blanket of protection America gained from
all over the world. In the painting the sword rests under the year 1914; when the war started.
The trio of the sword, victory, and honor all add up to the promises we made to the allies. First
and foremost America had to be willing to provide honor to the other countries and help them to
victory, which is why those messages are on top of the sword. The sword represents the
protection America got in return.
Leyendecker illustrated a worn down angel which represents an American
contributing to the war efforts to develop the military and military supplies. When America
joined the war many citizens werent happy, but they still wanted to help, and the government
ensured that they did. To prepare for war American troops went through vigorous training in a
very short period of time before they were sent to Europe. Factories became dedicated to
producing supplies, and people grew victory gardens to give food to their troops. The war efforts
were exhausting and extremely physically demanding. J.C. put a latin phrase under the angel that
says Ducit Amor Patriae which means patriotism drives me (Leyendecker n.p.). He put that
under the angel to show that even though the working Americans were beaten down, their
patriotism drove them to not quit until they came out of the war as victors.
With the help from back home, America won the war with its allies. Leyendecker
painted a plant wrapped with peace and plenty, which all represent the power and new
respect America gained after the war. The plant appears to be a holly branch. Holly branches
typically represent dignity, or respectability. Similarly to the sword under 1914, the holly rests
under 1918 when the war ended. J.C. tried to get the same point across by wrapping the peace
and plenty on top of the holly, because those things came before the respect. Peace came with the

end of the war and the treaties, and plenty came with the benefits America got from the other
countries.
Today World War One is a key
concept in a history class. In OHS Ive
been taught about it every year since
freshman year U.S. History. This painting
gave new perspective to everything I had
learned. I learned everything in deep
description and analysis. Leyendecker
summarized the war in a very simple way
that couldnt be debated or changed. I
agree completely with how he got the
point across in his art, and I think it shows
just how intelligent he really was.
Leyendecker described the war
from beginning; when we joined the
war, middle; when we fought for our troops, and end; when we came out victors. He proved
every part of the war to be tiny steps toward our growth and success as a country. J.C.
showed how America works hard in order to get an outcome that outweighs the hard work in the
best ways. As Americans we can say that our growth through not just World War One, but every
war has brought us to a better place and given us a beautiful society.