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<< Previous   of   Next >> Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Petty Officer 2nd Class John Smith smiles as he climbs into his new Scion at Rodland Toyota Scion in Everett on Monday. Smith, who serves on the USS Lincoln, won the new car through a fundraising raffle for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Sailor savors new car smell Charity raffle a winner for many By Julie Muhlstein, Herald Columnist Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John Smith sat in the driver's seat. With the radio cranked up loud and the Pretenders hit "Back on the Chain Gang" blaring, he played with dashboard buttons. And he grinned. It was Smith's first time behind the wheel of his new car, a 2009 Scion xB painted Blackberry Crush Metallic. Who wouldn't smile? There was more making the 38-year-old sailor giddy Monday than the new car smell. He was about to drive away from Everett's Rodland Toyota Scion dealership without paying a cent for his car, priced at $17,370. Smith's good fortune was part luck and partly the result of his own generosity. A machinist mate who works on the USS Abraham Lincoln's engines, Smith bought four $25 raffle tickets shortly after the carrier left Everett last spring. The prize was the car, donated by Rodland Toyota Scion to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. It's a time-honored charity. The private nonprofit Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, a national organization, has been helping U.S. military members and their families since 1904. "It started as a pass-the-hat organization," said Andy Leech, director of the Navy Marine-Corps Relief Society based at the Naval Station Everett Support Complex at Smokey Point. The charity gives sailors and their families emergency financial help. It also offers visiting nurse services and runs a thrift shop that carries used uniforms, clothing and other items. "One service we have is the quick-assist loan, our answer to the payday loan," Leech said. Through the charity, no-interest loans of up to $300 are available to military families in need, and can be repaid through a payroll deduction for up to 10 months, Leech said. Together, Leech said, all commands under Naval Station Everett, including the region's ROTC programs, raised $245,099 in this year's fund drive. And $169,897 of that was raised aboard the Abraham Lincoln, which returned to Everett on Sunday after a seven-month deployment. About $23,000 came from the car raffle. Even with this year's tough economy, Leech said, sailors aboard the Lincoln were No. 3 in fundraising among carrier crews "in the history of carriers." The fundraiser is held annually, with service members donating to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society much like civilians making United Way contributions. "I got involved this time and offered a free car," said Buzz Rodland, president of Rodland Toyota Scion. Rodland is also chairman of the United Way of Snohomish County 2008 campaign. Smith and his wife, Francine, picked up the prize Monday after flying into Sea-Tac Airport from San Diego. The couple, who don't have children, have a long-distance marriage. John Smith lives aboard the Lincoln, and his wife spends much of her time in the San Diego area, where they have horses. The sailor's other vehicle is a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado truck. It's in California, so Smith is thrilled with his new wheels in Everett. "My truck gets only 12 to 14 miles per gallon," he said. "According to the sticker, this new one gets 22 in the city, 28 on the freeway." Before the Lincoln left Everett last spring, the car dealership and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society hoisted a white Scion xB aboard the ship. It was there a week, enticing sailors to buy raffle tickets. Smith opened his wallet and bought $100 worth. Back in 1997, when Smith was aboard the USS Denver in San Diego, he was helped by the charity. His mother, Ruth Smith, suffered a heart attack and a stroke, and died in Rochester, N.Y. The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society paid for Smith's flight to his hometown from California. He hasn't forgotten that sad time, or the help. When the raffle winner was drawn, back in April, Smith's name was announced over shipboard TV. He wasn't watching. "One of my chiefs said, 'What's your first name? You just won a car,' " Smith said Monday. Yes, his name really is John Smith, and he said he's one of three with that name on the Lincoln. "They have a different rate and rank," he said. Smith won, all right. The tough part was waiting six months to get behind the wheel. By Tuesday afternoon, he had driven to Smokey Point and zipped all around Everett in his snazzy Scion. "It's a great little car," he said. "I've put 100 miles on it already." Columnist Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460 or muhlstein@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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