In 1943, Blakeley joined the
Marine Corps. During the
1945 invasion of Iwo Jima during World War II, Blakeley was a
sergeant major of the
4th Marine Division. He later served during the
Korean War in 1951 and 1952, Blakeley also wanted the reflective paint to easily illuminate from a
cigarette lighter. His design was approved by Special Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army Powell Pierpoint. Blakeley suggested a $700,000 production run of one million interior signs by Alfray Products from
Coshocton, Ohio and 400,000 exterior signs by
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M). Blakeley debuted the completed products at the
Westchester County Office Building in
White Plains, New York, on October 4, 1961. The signs became an icon for the
anti-war protests and
counterculture of the 1960s and were featured in popular culture, including
Bob Dylan's 1965 album cover for
Bringing It All Back Home. Blakeley recounted a story from when his children were young and saw the ubiquitous signs: ==References==