In 1917, during World War I, the U.S. government borrowed money to pay for the war effort by selling war bonds, known as Liberty Bonds. The Second Liberty Loan aimed to raise $3 billion.

During the Second Liberty Loan campaign, a huge replica of a James Montgomery Flagg recruiting poster stood outside the Bon Marche in downtown Seattle. The image was gradually completed as people bought bonds. At this point, with 1/3 of the figure completed, some $4.5 million had been raised locally. The goal for Seattle's quota was $13 million, as indicated by the thermometer to the right of the soldier.

Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.