How big is the ornament?

3 inches (76 mm) across, faceted crystal glass with a red ribbon hanger, in a white or gold gift box.

What is the Truman ornament?

An original sepia drawing of a 1945 crowd christening a new town sign in honor of President Harry S. Truman, set in a three-inch faceted crystal round with a white back and a red ribbon hanger. Part of the Merlin Classics Heritage Series.

Where does The Buck Stops Here come from?

It was the motto on a small sign President Truman kept on his Oval Office desk, meaning that final responsibility rested with him. He referred to it in speeches, including his farewell address in 1953.

Why did a town rename itself for Truman?

In 1945 the residents of Thin Gravy, a small Texas community, voted to rename it Truman in honor of the new president, and christened the new sign with milk on November 21, 1945.

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Truman · The Buck Stops Here · Heritage Holiday Ornament

$28.00 USD

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Size One size

Shape Circle + White Gift Packaging Circle + Gold Gift Packaging

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Truman. A crowd in hats and good coats, a new sign going up, and someone holding up a milk bottle the way you would hold champagne at a ship launching. It is 1945, and a little prairie community has just picked its new namesake.

On April 12, 1945, with no warning at all, Harry Truman was sworn in as president, and he said afterward that it felt as if the moon and the stars had fallen on him. Within five months he had seen the war end in Europe and then in the Pacific. He kept a small sign on his desk that read The Buck Stops Here, and he meant every word of it.

Across the country, people took to the plain-spoken Missourian. Out on the Texas prairie that November, a crossroads of a couple hundred souls called Thin Gravy was so taken with the new president that it voted to take his name instead, then christened the sign with milk, because they were dairy country and milk is what they had. Give 'em Hell Harry had admirers in the unlikeliest places.

Drawn for us in sepia tones and set in crystal so the crowd, the hats and the lettering read under the lights. Three inches across; 1945 at pocket size.

For Truman admirers and presidential history readers, anyone who loves 1940s America, and anybody who still thinks the buck should stop somewhere.

Faceted crystal, three inches across, with a white back so the line work reads from across the room once the tree is lit. Red ribbon. Boxed in gold or white, your call at checkout. Ships free anywhere in the U.S.

QUICK FACTS — TRUMAN CRYSTAL ORNAMENT

Series: Heritage Holiday Ornament

Art: Truman (The Buck Stops Here), original Merlin Classics engraving printed to the glass

Blank: 3-inch (76 mm) round clear crystal glass ornament, faceted gem-cut edge

Print: white-backed for contrast; red ribbon hanger

Packaging: white or gold gift box, chosen at checkout

Made to order in the USA

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Product FAQs

How does your sizing work?

Every item is made to order, so please check the size chart on this page before you buy. Women's fitted tees run small; size up for a looser fit. Caps are one size with an adjustable strap.

How are items made and when will they arrive?

We make each item to order using premium blanks, embroidery and soft-hand prints. Production takes 2-5 business days (weekends and holidays excluded), then 4-10 days in transit via USPS, UPS or FedEx to U.S. addresses; most orders arrive within 6-15 business days. You'll get a tracking link the moment it ships. Any current shipping offer is shown in the bar at the top of every page and applies automatically at checkout, no code needed.

How do I send a gift?

Enter the recipient's address as the shipping address and your own as the billing address at checkout. Nothing ships with a price; the package includes a plain packing slip. Tracking goes to your email, not theirs. For birthdays and holidays, order two weeks ahead to be safe.

What's the return policy?

Made-to-order items can't be returned or exchanged for size or color, so please use the size chart and photos before ordering. If anything arrives defective, misprinted or damaged, send a photo and your order number within 30 days and we'll replace it or refund you.

How do I care for my item?

Apparel: wash cold, inside out, with like colors; no bleach; tumble dry low or hang dry. Embroidered pieces: iron inside out to protect the stitching. Caps: spot clean. Printed glasses and water bottles: hand wash only, no dishwasher, so the artwork lasts. Mugs and engraved glasses are dishwasher safe. Any item-specific care notes are in the description above.

Who makes this?

Merlin Classics is a small Connecticut brand making original retro designs for the towns people love. Every piece is printed, embroidered or engraved to order in the USA, and the business supports hunger relief in the communities our collections celebrate.