Eagle plaques on homes are an American tradition. Who qualifies for them?

(NEXSTAR) – The “American dream” of owning a house with a yard and a picket fence may still be in reach today, but achieving the once-common feat of paying off a mortgage may feel far-fetched. 

Americans are still buying homes. The most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau found that there are roughly 84.2 million owner-occupied homes in the country. But one tradition of home ownership has seemingly faded. 

You may still see remnants of it if you drive through an older neighborhood or if you own an older home. What you’re looking for is a metal eagle.

They may be made of wood, cast iron, or metal, and can be found above garages and front doors alike. Your first thought may be that the eagle is simply patriotic symbolism, considering our national bird is the bald eagle. 

As you may have inferred by now, that answer is about halfway accurate. To better understand the eagle plaques, you have to go back about 70 years. 

At the time, American soldiers were returning home from World War II. Many would take advantage of the newly signed Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, better known as the G.I. Bill, which provided veterans with funds for college, unemployment insurance, and housing. 

Within about a decade of the bill being enacted, 4.3 million home loans had been granted, and 20% of all new homes built post-World War II were bought by........

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