Stith Printing Inc. was recently mentioned in the Goodguys Goodtimes Gazette, March 2010 issue, page 10. Here is what was said:

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Hi KIRK!,

Good job covering the 22nd Pacific Northwest Nationals in Puyallup, WA. I counted 55 pages showing close to 200 whole cars and bits and pieces of another 685 vehicles.

I am writing this because I would like to add more to the part about the Wounded Warriors Project, noted on pages 57 and 72 in the December '09 Gazette.

In 2008, Tacoma street rodder Larry Andren became interested in the plight of our wounded servicemen and women and felt there might be a way the car hobby could do something to recognize their sacrifices for the extremely tough job they had committed themselves to.

Andren first met with Gary Meadors, co-event directors George Marten and Betsy Bennett, along with members of the Kingsmen Car Club (who host the annual poker run on Friday during the Puyallup Goodguys show) and with a Wounded Warrior Project spokesperson from the nearby Ft. Lewis Army Base. Andren sought drivers who would volunteer to take a military person along in their car on the poker run. He advertised his plan on the Goodguy's webpage, and on the HotRod Hotline site. Right away, Andren received an email from a car guy Art Foltz of Fontana, California, who said he was formerly in the military and would drive to the ends of the earth for these braze men and women." Foltz even drove his 1955 Chevy 2-door sedan to Puyallup to participate in the WWP poker run.

During Andren's visits to Ft. Lewis to promote the poker run, it was suggested that the wounded come to the Goodguys show wearing civilian attire so as to enjoy the day and car show as regular guys off duty. Those in the color guard who presented the colors during the awards presentation were in uniform. All (about 40) military were invited to bring their families along. All received free passes to the car show, a free lunch courtesy of GiGi's restaurant on the fairgrounds, and special items from NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne's mom who operates a memorabilia store in this hometown, Enumclaw, nearby. Each military person received his/her own poker card and competed for prizes. The Goodguys host club, The Old Timers, donated $500 to military poker run winners.

Andren, who drives a 1947 DIVCO "Holy Cow" milk truck wanted to give each person and driver one of his milk truck t-shirts. When he contacted Kevin Stith of Stith Printing in Santa Fe, CA to order more, and explained he needed more to give to the wounded soldiers, Stith commented about this nice thing Andren was doing for Vets. Before long, Andren found a box of more milk truck t-shirts on his porch along with another big box. In it, Andren discovered 100 specially designed t-shirts showing a hot rodded Stryker vehicle complete with a blower, billet wheels, zoomie headers and the Purple Heart. The words "Inaugural Purple Heart Poker Run '09, Puyallup, Washington" ran across the back of the t-shirts.

Said Andren, "I was moved to tears, Kevin had attached a note stating he and his crew had chipped in the money and time to print these shirts at no cost." The note also read, "God Bless America, God bless our troops, and God Bless you for stepping forward."

Andren noted that Kevin Stith hoped others across the nation would see what happened here (in the Northwest) and go into their own communities and honor the military where they live.

Friday, the day of the poker run proved to be a winner for everyone who participated. Soldiers were excited to spend the day at this huge car show and participate in the poker run riding in a cool vehicle. Car people were very supportive of the WWP idea.

As a long time contributor to various old car publications, I felt this segment of the 2009 Pacific Northwest Nationals Goodguys show needed to be added. Larry Andren is not the kind of guy who does things to get attention, but when he said to me - "This Wounded Warrior Project made all my work worthwhile planning it. My heart is full. If I only got through to one soldier, one driver, one spectator, it was worth it. These brave men gave a lot. Some have given their all. We need to honor their dedication to our freedom" - I felt compelled to write and let Goodguys' readers know about this special day that unfolded last July 24 in Puyallup, Washington.

Marian Dinwiddie

Via email

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