Dear Mr. President ... The World's Longest Letter To Be Unfurled Thursday, September 15th 2005, on the National Mall in Washington D.C.

NEW YORK, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The World's Longest Letter, comprising nearly 4,000 letters handwritten by 8- and 9-year-old school children from across the country, will be officially unrolled at a public ceremony on the National Mall in Washington D.C. on Thursday, September 15th at 11:30 a.m. Sponsored by Pilot Pen Corporation of America, The World's Longest Letter (http://www.worldslongestletter.com/) set out to encourage America's children to think about-and write about-their aspirations and concerns for the future of our country. Classes (3rd and 4th graders) from one school in each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia were selected to contribute their letters- addressed "Dear Mr. President" and incorporated into a half-mile long scroll.

The official dedication and unveiling ceremony on the National Mall in D.C. for The World's Longest Letter is expected to draw a high-profile contingent, including: senior members of Congress; top representatives of the Bush administration; educational leaders; and hundreds of school children from participating schools in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia who will come to the nation's capital expressly for this event.

Pilot Pen first created The World's Longest Letter project as a means of demonstrating the power of the pen, as well as the privilege American citizens exercise when they put pen to paper. "These amazing letters are poignant, wise and often funny," comments Pilot Pen President and CEO Ron Shaw. "Clearly, they were written straight from the heart - with the innocent eloquence characteristic of young children, devoid of any filter or 'spin' - and yet they are quite powerful."

Samples from the handwritten letters to the President touch on everything from poverty and world peace to career goals and favorite foods. Some examples:

  -- "Please Mr. President, can you make more jobs for people? Also can you
     make the jobs pay more than what they usually do for beginners so there
     are less poor people each year?"
     Matthew, Morrice Elementary, Morrice, MI

  -- "I hope that some day women will have the same rights as men. Like
     women football and baseball leagues. Maybe even a women president. If
     that happens, do you think one of your daughters could become president
     like you?"
     Lisa, Oak Lawn School, Cranston, RI

  -- "Who chooses your clothes everyday? I don't think the Secret Service
     does, and I think you may do it yourself. You always look nice."
     Nathan, Homeland Park Elementary, Anderson, SC

  -- "Being a teacher is hard work. Can you pass a law that allows teachers
     to teach and someone else to do the paper work?"
     Nicole, Public School #360, Bronx, NY

  -- "Could you lower taxes and make smoking illegal? My dad is addicted to
     smoking and I tell him to quit."
     Gabe, Morrice Elementary, Morrice, MI

  -- "I hope that gas prices would go down and that people rode in horses
     and buggys (sic) instead of cars."
     Julia, Verner Elementary, Tuscaloosa, AL

  -- "Up here in Unalaska, Alaska there was an oil spill. I think you should
     forbid all oil tankers from major fishing areas."
     Garrison, Snowshoe Elementary, Wasilla, AK

  -- "Mr. Bush, I also think you should get rid of silly laws. An example of
     a silly law is: in Kentucky it is illegal to carry ice cream in your
     back pocket, isn't that silly?"
     Alicia, Fairview Elementary, Dover, DE

  -- "I am concerned about the war in Iraq. My uncle might have to go there
     if the war goes on for a couple more months. I am concerned about his
     safety because I love him very much."
     Jaimie, Pleasant Hill Elementary School, Topeka, KS

  -- "My hopes (sic) that there would be a cure for diabetes."
     Maranda, Morrice Elementary, Morrice, MI

  -- "I want to ask you if kids could vote? Because all of us are just
     itching to vote."
     Tyler, St. Elizabeth Seton Elementary, Rapid City, SD

Pilot Pen joined forces last year with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to reach out to America's elementary schools about The World's Longest Letter; teachers and students embraced the project, which addressed the continuing need for basic school supplies. Many of the children expressed how much they relished the chance of writing to the President: "I am so happy I get to write a letter to you! I never thought I would get this opportunity," said one typical correspondent. Since the project's inception, Pilot Pen has donated more than 25,000 writing instruments to schools participating in The World's Longest Letter. In fact, the project is ongoing via the website (http://www.worldslongestletter.com/), which invites kids across the country to write their hopes, dreams and aspirations. These entries will be added to the virtual version of The World's Longest Letter.

  Contact:  Andy Morris and Company
            Carol Klenfner
           (212) 561-7467
            carol@amc-pr.com