The Mannekin-pis, the urinating Hero of a nation.

The rape of belgium propaganda posters made me remember a story I heard when i was visiting Belgium with my family. I was only thirteen so i may be a bit rusty on the details.
Everywhere you go in Belgium you are sure to come across an image of a young naked boy peeing. This image appears on postcards, in photos, on porcelin plates, shot glasses, novelty statues, and even those little collector spoons. He is as known and loved by the Belgians as Lois and Clark are to North Americans. His name is Mannekin pis, or Petite Julien.
There are many legends about this little boy. This is the one i was told. During WWI a little boy was playing on a hilltop outside Leuven, he noticed German soldiers marching towards the city. As they passed the hill he was playing on he, in an act of defiance urinates on the heads of the german soldiers. This same legend is also told about earlier battles. Another legend states that the boy went missing while out shopping with his mother. After searching the whole town he was found peeing in a street corner (another variation says he was found peeing in a garden). I cannot say whether any of the legends are true, either way this boy has become and icon to the belgians and is a treasured piece of their heritage. It intrigues me how this boy attained so much celebrity when no one is certain of what exactly he did other than pee. The image is so influential to them that the women of Belgium demanded that a femal version of the heroic urinater be built (much less flattering).
The Mannekin pis likeness has been used in advertising and subliminally.
His image is visible on the camel cigarette packs in the front leg and shoulder of the camel. I think its too obvious to be coincidence, yet im confused about the reasoning behind that bit of subliminal messaging."Pissed off with Sabena's high fares? Low fares have arrived in Belgium." Another example is the airline advertisement in quotes, it is accompanied by an image of the Mannekin pis.
I would consider this image to be propaganda due to repitition technique, Transfer and maybe even cardstacking( multiple legends portray him as a hero). If you consider Petite Julien to be an image of propaganda it is fairly obvious that patriotism is his only agenda and has been for several hundred years if earlier legends are to be believed. I think this is a very effective image due to its uniqueness and its taboo subject matter. It stands apart from most other examples of propaganda because it is not being used by anyone with an agenda. It is up to the viewer whether or not they want to form an opinion.