PRESS RELEASE

New Patriotic Tribute™ Playing Cards Available
The United States Playing Card Company Honors America’s Veterans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: George White
JULY 24, 2002 (513) 396-5870
georgewhite@usplayingcard.com

CINCINNATI, OH – Playing cards from The United States Playing Card Company (USPC) have been a regular part of life for American military personnel for more than a century. The company’s Bicycle® brand has long been the preferred brand during R&R periods, and the company has periodically contributed special decks to the country’s war efforts.

It is therefore fitting that USPC has issued a new Patriotic Tribute deck of playing cards that features a collection of personal photographs from America’s veterans of WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf. The cards offer a unique, personal perspective on America’s military efforts in the last century through these photographs, most of which have never been published before.

The premium quality playing cards, which feature 54 photographs from individual servicemen as well as national archives that capture the era, will be available at retail in September. These Patriotic Tribute cards will serve as a perfect Veterans Day item.

“We are very pleased to offer these unique Patriotic Tribute decks,” said USPC president Greg Simko. “Most of the photographs came from company employees and their relatives who served in our nation’s military in the last century, creating a powerful, personalized chronicle of America’s war efforts. I am confident that veterans and their relatives will agree that this deck is a fitting tribute to their contributions to our country.”

Throughout the 1900’s, USPC has contributed to America’s military efforts. One of the most noteworthy contributions was the special “Escape Route” deck the company produced during World War II. The deck featured a map with escape routes out of Germany on the interior side of the cards, which could be revealed by soaking them in water and removing the faces of the cards. During the war in Vietnam, at the request of the United States government, USPC shipped thousands of decks containing nothing but the “Bicycle” Ace of Spades. The Viet Cong were very superstitious and highly frightened by this Ace. These decks were housed in plain white tuckcases and inscribed, “Bicycle Secret Weapon.” The cards were deliberately scattered in the jungle and in hostile villages during raids causing many Viet Cong to flee at the sight of them.