On July 15, 2016, the U.S. Postal Service® will dedicate the Pickup Trucks Forever® stamps in Syracuse, NY, at the Syracuse Nationals. The stamps celebrate pickup trucks, the rugged and reliable work vehicles that Americans have driven for nearly a century. The stamps feature four iconic models: the 1938 International Harvester D-2, the 1948 Ford F-1, the 1953 Chevrolet, and the 1965 Ford F-100.
Postmasters are encouraged to conduct special dedication ceremonies as soon as July 15 and throughout the year at car and truck shows, county and state fairs, and even as a stand-alone event at local Post Offices™.
This publicity kit includes:
n Sample media advisory;
n Sample news release;
n Sample speech;
n Corporate Communications contacts for assistance in publicizing ceremonies; and
n Government Relations contacts for inviting local elected officials, if deemed necessary.
Email mark.r.saunders@usps.gov to obtain Word document versions of the sample media advisory, news release, and speech.
Please call Zachary Scott, 703-379-1121, at Colours Imaging to purchase a poster-sized blow-up of the stamps.
Here is a small sampling of google search results for automotive and truck shows. Please feel free to expand your google search to your geographic area.
n Iowa 80 Trucking Museum: http:⁄⁄iowa80truckingmuseum.com⁄exhibits?gclid=CNOn7OHpts0CFYkkgQodkCIC_A;
n Antique Truck Club of America: http:⁄⁄www.antiquetruckclub.org⁄;
n American Truck Historical Society: http:⁄⁄www.aths.org⁄;
n Hemmings Classic Car Event listing: http:⁄⁄www.hemmings.com⁄calendar⁄;
n Classic Cars.com 2016 events calendar: http:⁄⁄classiccars.com⁄event-calendar⁄event-directory.html; and
n Oldride.com events calendar: http:⁄⁄www.oldride.com⁄events⁄.
Sample Media Advisory
Date Contact: [Name]
Telephone: XXX.XXX.XXXX
Email: xxxx.xxxx@usps.gov
usps.com⁄news
[Name] Post Office to Dedicate Pickup Trucks Forever Stamps
Stamps Celebrate Four Classic Vehicles
High-resolution images of the stamps are available for media use only by emailing
mark.r.saunders@usps.gov.
WHAT: Special dedication ceremony for the Pickup Trucks Forever stamps.
WHO: Title, Name [Please list officials in order of importance to news media.]
Title, Name [Optional]
WHEN: [Day, Date, Time]
WHERE: [Location⁄Building Name]
[Location Address]
[City, State, ZIP +4]
[Special instrcutions for admittance or directions.]
BACKGROUND: Celebrating the rugged and reliable work vehicles that Americans have driven for nearly a century, each of these four new Forever stamps features one of the following iconic models.
n The strong, sturdy 1938 International Harvester D-2 had a distinct barrel-shaped grille and its elegant styling mirrored the look of luxury automobiles of the era.
n The 1953 Chevrolet featured large windshields and provided drivers with excellent visibility, a distinctive curvy grille that bulged in the middle, and a six-cylinder engine.
n The 1948 Ford F-1 included features like the roomy “Million Dollar Cab,” a sharp horizontal five-bar grille, and a six-cylinder engine.
n The 1965 Ford F-100 had a new grille that featured 18 small rectangular openings. It also featured what Ford dubbed “Twin-I-Beam” independent front suspension.
Illustrator Chris Lyons of Syracuse, NY, created the artwork under the direction of Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA.
# # #
Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at http:⁄⁄about.usps.com⁄news⁄welcome.htm.
Reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional should go to http:⁄⁄about.usps.com⁄news⁄media-contacts⁄usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.
Follow us on http:⁄⁄www.twitter.com⁄usps and like us at http:⁄⁄www.facebook.com⁄usps. For more information about the Postal Service, go to http:⁄⁄usps.com and http:⁄⁄usps.com⁄postalfacts.
Sample News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [Name]
Telephone: XXX.XXX.XXXX
Email: XXXXXX.XXXX@usps.gov
usps.com⁄news
Pickup Trucks Get [Name] Post Office Stamp of Approval
Special Dedication Ceremony Held at (Location)
CITY, STATE — The [Name] Post Office celebrated pickup trucks, the rugged and reliable work vehicles that Americans have driven for nearly a century, by conducting a special dedication ceremony today. The Pickup Trucks Forever stamps feature four iconic models: the 1938 International Harvester D-2; the 1948 Ford F-1; the 1953 Chevrolet; and the 1965 Ford F-100.
The special dedication ceremony took place at [Provide details here.]
[Insert Postmaster quote here.]
[(Optional) Insert quote from Dedicating Official here.]
Artist Chris Lyons of Rochester, NY, used Adobe Illustrator to create stylized renderings of the pickup trucks. On each stamp, the name and model year of the truck are featured in the top left corner over the words “FOREVER USA.” Art director Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, designed the stamps.
Taking Over the Role of the Horse-Drawn Wagon
The origin of pickup trucks can be traced back to the early 20th century, when automobiles first became popular in the United States. They made personally hauling cargo, which once was the job of horse-drawn wagons, easier than ever. By the early 1900s, several manufacturers first began producing light-duty trucks in limited numbers.
International Harvester supplied and maintained trucks on stateside military bases during World War I. In 1917, Ford released the Model TT, which had a one-ton chassis. For 1918, Chevrolet introduced the Model 490 truck. But because drivers had to purchase their own cargo beds and bodies, these vehicles weren't considered true pickup trucks.
The first fully factory assembled pickup truck didn't arrive until the middle of the next decade, when the 1925 Ford Model T Runabout with Pick-Up Body made its debut. A fortified version of Ford's landmark Model T, it had a base price of $281, featured a steel bed, and was powered by a modest 20-horsepower engine. Ford sold nearly 34,000 Model T pickups, which helped kick-start the popularity of pickup trucks.
Automaker Studebaker used the word “pickup” in an advertisement in 1913, but the exact root of the term “pickup” is unclear. By the Great Depression, it had become part of the American lexicon. U.S. Federal Regulations currently classify the pickup truck as “a non-passenger automobile which has a passenger compartment and an open cargo area (bed).”
1938 International Harvester D-2
Known for its production of agricultural equipment, International Harvester also made acclaimed light-duty trucks. In the 1930s, the company introduced its D line of pickups. With its six-cylinder engine and half-ton payload capacity, the 1938 International Harvester D-2 was a strong, sturdy pickup. The model was also visually striking. It had a distinct barrel-shaped grille and its elegant styling mirrored the look of luxury automobiles of the era.
By the end of World War II, pickups had become ubiquitous, especially in rural America. The nation's major manufacturers soon began designing well-equipped trucks that no longer resembled the bare-bone models they once offered.
In the 1960s and 1970s, International Harvester’s line of light trucks flourished. In addition to the pickup version of the popular Scout, the company offered the C-Series, including the C-110. Most IH pickups of the era were available in a number of different wheelbases, a variety of engines, and with a larger, “Bonus-Load” bed. These models also offered a crew cab option, a popular concept introduced by IH in 1957.
1953 Chevorlet
In 1947, Chevrolet rolled out the Advance-Design Series, the first all-new, post-World War II pickup truck line. The new Chevys were roomier and more powerful than ever before. Advance-Design pickups, such as the 1953 Chevrolet, featured large windshields that provided drivers with excellent visibility, a distinctive curvy grille that bulged in the middle, and a six-cylinder engine. Advance-Design trucks were America's top-selling pickups for nearly a decade.
The same year Chevy debuted its new line, International Harvester introduced its KB-Series of trucks. During World War II thousands of soldiers drove IH trucks, and once back home, welcomed the chance to own a stylish KB-1, -2, or -3 pickup.
1948 Ford F-1
Ford's F-Series also differed greatly from relatively sparse models previously available. Also known as the “Bonus Built” line, F-Series trucks were, in the words of Ford's famous advertising campaign, “built stronger to last longer.” Ford launched the new line with the 1948 Ford F-1. It included features like the roomy “Million Dollar Cab,” a sharp horizontal five-bar grille, and a six- or eight-cylinder engine. Ford sold more than 300,000 trucks in the first model year of the F-Series.
1965 Ford F-100
For the 1965 model year, the F-Series pickup got a facelift. The 1965 Ford F-100 had a new grille that featured 18 small rectangular openings. It also featured what Ford dubbed “Twin-I-Beam” independent front suspension, which improved the quality of the ride, and a powerful six- or eight-cylinder engine. The F-Series is still in production today and remains the country’s top-selling truck line. As of 2015, there have been 13 generations of F-Series pickups.
Pickup Trucks is being issued as a First-Class Mail® Forever booklet of 20 stamps. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.
Ordering the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at the Postal Store website at https:⁄⁄store.usps.com⁄store⁄, or by calling 800-782-6724. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
Pickup Trucks Stamps
Postmaster
5640 East Taft Road
Syracuse, NY 13220-9810
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by September 15, 2016.
Ordering First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog, online at https:⁄⁄store.usps.com⁄store⁄, or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:
U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
# # #
Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at http:⁄⁄about.usps.com⁄news⁄welcome.htm.
Reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional should go to http:⁄⁄about.usps.com⁄news⁄media-contacts⁄usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.
Follow us on http:⁄⁄www.twitter.com⁄usps and like us at http:⁄⁄www.facebook.com⁄usps. For more information about the Postal Service, go to http:⁄⁄usps.com and http:⁄⁄usps.com⁄postalfacts.
Sample Speech
[Postal Service Official’s Name and Title]
United States Postal Service
Pickup Trucks Stamps
Special Dedication Ceremony
[Location]
[City, State]
[Date, Time]
Good [morning⁄afternoon⁄evening]!
My name is [Name] and I am the [Postal Service Title] of [Location].
Thank you for joining the United States Postal Service today as we dedicate the Pickup Trucks stamps.
From political figures to sports legends to iconic film stars, postage stamps honor the people we admire. The things we treasure. The things that represent our values. And the events that have shaped our history.
Today, we honor the pickup truck.
These four stamps — honoring the 1938 International Harvester D-2, the 1948 Ford F-1, the 1953 Chevrolet, and the 1965 Ford F-100 — represent distinct automotive innovations of their era, as well as the shifting needs of Americans. No pun intended, for those truck fans who follow transmission developments! [Pause, if laughter.]
Starting in the early 20th century, as pickup trucks replaced horse-drawn wagons, the truck evolved from a functional machine. First adopted by farmers as tools of their trade, trucks have become the fully-loaded, sleek, and modern marvels we see on our roads today.
Perhaps no other symbol of America instills more pride than the pickup truck. For many, it symbolizes our heartlands — the center of agriculture and farming.
For others, it symbolizes ruggedness and heavy lifting — the machine you need to get a tough job done when no other vehicle will do.
And for others, the pickup truck symbolizes the hard work millions of men and women perform each day in support of this great nation.
The 1938 International Harvester D-2 was influenced by the popularity of the Art Deco (pronounced “deko”) design era of that time. This beautifully designed pickup had a unique barrel-shaped grille and sophisticated styling to mirror the look of the era’s other luxury automobiles.
The 1948 Ford F-1, the first generation of Ford’s F-Series, included a new interior called the “Million Dollar Cab,” designed to provide a more comfortable driving experience. This truck had a sharp, horizontal five-bar grille, and came with a six- or eight-cylinder engine.
The 1953 Chevrolet was part of the company’s Advance-Design series and featured large windshields to give drivers better visibility. Other features were a distinctive bulging grille and a six-cylinder engine. Chevrolet’s Advance-Design trucks were America’s top-selling pickups for nearly a decade.
The 1965 Ford F-100 had a new grille with 18 small rectangular openings. It also featured what Ford dubbed “Twin-I-Beam” independent front suspension to improve the quality of the ride, and it came with a powerful six- or eight-cylinder engine.
The F-Series is still in production today and remains the country’s top-selling truck line.
There have been 13 generations of F-Series pickups. As we can see, the pickup truck remains a symbol of American agility and perseverance.
[Suggestion: You may want to add info specific to your event⁄location of speech.]
Today’s pickup trucks are capable of extraordinary feats of strength and are revered for their endurance and reliability. They come in a variety of models to accommodate the needs of outdoorsmen and women, trade workers, farmers, and families. They also appeal to many who may not need such a powerful vehicle in the conventional sense, but remain loyal to the pickup truck, which has served the nation for generations.
For the significant contributions pickup trucks have made in molding this country’s landscape and revolutionizing how we transport ourselves and our goods, we are proud to honor these four iconic trucks. They represent the best in automotive design and function for their time.
So now, on behalf of the United States Postal Service, I would like to invite our special guests to join me in dedicating these iconic symbols of the American way of life.
[Unveil Pickup Trucks stamps. Pose for photos.]
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Area Corporate Communications Managers
Capital Metro
Tom Oulette
301-548-1465
thomas.r.ouellette@usps.gov
Eastern
Paul Smith
215-863-5055
paul.f.smith@usps.gov
Great Lakes
Ed Moore
313-225-5452
edward.r.moore@usps.gov
Pacific
David L. Walton (A)
858-674-3149
david.walton@usps.gov
Northeast
Maureen Marion
860-285-7029
maureen.p.marion@usps.gov
Southern
Polly Gibbs
214-819-8704
polly.j.gibbs@usps.gov
Western
John Friess
303-313-5130
john.g.friess@usps.gov
Government Relations Representative Listing
Your Government Relations representatives are here to serve you. They can assist you in contacting and inviting elected officials to participate in your event — please let them know.
Alphabetical State/Representative Listing
Area code and prefix for all extensions is 202-268-xxxx.
— Public Relations,
Corporate Communications, 7-7-16
