A Penny-Encrusted Van for Disabled Veterans

     When I went home to San Diego recently, I spent the bulk of my time in North County, specifically Oceanside.  My sister and her husband live near the back gate to Camp Pendleton (USMC), which is where my husband served most of his active duty.  While I was out doing some errands with my sister-in-law, who was visiting from LA, we came upon a blinged out minivan and I took the time to talk to the owner for a little while.  When we began to run late for a trip to El Cajon, he handed me an info sheet before saying goodbye and I felt inclined to share his story with you.

     Ret. Staff Sargeant William Earl Walker Sr. (USMC) of Oceanside, 49, is a dedicated Baptist and disabled veteran who has endured two hip replacement surgeries caused by his participation in several military actions on behalf of his beloved Corps.  He's a one-man attraction, a rolling tribute to persistence, love of God, and a desire to help his fellow veterans all embodied in one of the most lavishly decorated vehicles you'll ever see.  He is a humble, gentle, and friendly man who puts you at ease as soon as you begin a conversation with him.  I guess you'd have to be if you drove around in a 1999 Ford Windstar Minivan with more than 9,000 pennies (at last count) as well as some nickels, dimes, quarters, and fifty cent pieces!

     Each coin has been lovingly polished and glued on every available surface.  And if the outside appears wild, you should see the interior!  With the assistance of his wife, Divinia, and his two children, Earlvinia, 15, and Ezekiel, 16, the inside of the van has been decked out with hanging beads, marbles, radios, transmitters, PA systems, a police badge, a fan, beads, an American flag, signs, decals, microphones, and various unrecognizable items - and that's just in the front compartment!  The exterior boasts the impressive display of thousands of shiny coins as well as deer warning devices, lights all around the exterior and on the wheels, all of which work and required the installation of a heavy duty alternator.  The windows are covered in decals, even a peace symbol, but also has lots of angels and religious references.  When he opened the door, we saw a nativity scene of sorts surrounded by lights and more gadgets and gizmos that were just too much to fully absorb or appreciate in one sitting.

     When asked, he said that the idea for the van came when he began putting religious decals on the windows.  His daughter found a roll of pennies and suggested that he glue those onto the car as well since they have the inscription "In God We Trust".  Now he thinks he has a van that should interest the Guiness Book of World Records, although he's never located a category for vans with the most pennies glued to it.  He admits that when he first started gluing pennies to the family van his wife, a native of the Philippines, wasn't much too thrilled with it.  Now she helps clean coins, keeps the wheels and tires bright, and generally looks after the unusual attraction. 

     Although the van is his hobby, he has two other reasons for driving a van that attracts attention everywhere he travels.  One, he wants to bring notice to the City of Oceanside as the home of a Guiness Book of World Records holder, a project to which he still devotes his time, and, two, he wants to help disabled American veterans who may be having problems getting their fair share.  Walker went through a tough time getting his benefits and believes his experience and knowledge in the system can be of use to other veterans.  In fact, he welcomes emails at supermanvan3858@yahoo.com.  He accepts donations for his cause and hands out small photos for a small fee (though I got mine for free ... not sure if it's because I'm the wife of a disabled veteran or simply because I engaged him in conversation) or he'll pose with the car for free.

     He says that he drives the van everyday around Oceanside and everytime he stops somewhere he's surrounded by curious people.  "People tell me it's the most unique vehicle they have ever seen and want to know what inspired me to make it look like this," he says.  "At night I have dreams that God has inspired me to do things that no other man can do."  He says that God is riding with him ... and if that's true, then it's probably getting pretty crowded in there!

     If you happen to drop him a line, let him know that a visitor he met at Navy Federal Credit Union this week shared his story online.  If nothing else, take the time to thank him for his service and sacrifice for our country and freedom.  It means so much to a veteran to hear those words.  If you are a religious person, keep him in your prayers and let him know you'll be doing so.  For a person who strives to be noticed so he can share his knowledge, I'm sure it would be a joy to be acknowledged and celebrated for what he does.

     Here's more pictures of his van online