CHARLES SCHULZ: HE GAVE US LAUGHTER, COMPASSION AND SYMPATHY 00 AND IT NEVER HURT A BIT

Most people who enjoyed "Peanuts" for nearly 50 years probably couldn't have told you who the comic strip's creator was.

But Charles Schulz was a giant of a man in so many ways and continues to have a remarkable influence on our lives even after his death last weekend.

In recent decades, certain individuals have so excelled at their craft that they have become icons of the American way of life. There is some comfort in knowing that Schulz has moved on to a place populated by the likes of Norman Rockwell, Will Rogers and Pearl Bailey.

Now there's a group anyone would like to get to know better.