70 Years of Smokey: The Story of America's Firefighting Bear

War propaganda doesn't typically have a long shelf life. Smokey Bear is an exception.

The United States Forest Service launched the Smokey Bear anti-forest fire campaign on Aug. 9, 1944, making Saturday the character's 70th birthday. While generations of Americans consider Smokey synonymous with forest protection, it was actually the start of America's involvement in World War II that inspired his birth.

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However, he stuck around long after the war ended, and has hung out with celebrities, found a real-life counterpart and even received an animated face lift just after 60th birthday. Here's the story of Smokey Bear. Read more...

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