Dayton, Ohio, residents may have been wondering where the aquarium was. After all, the largest body of water is more than 150 miles away, and it's just Lake Erie. But Bobby and Diana Vann, owners of American Way Van & Storage in Dayton, have taken their environmental awareness to a new level, putting truck-sized decals of whales on 10 straight trucks and 11 trailers.

American Way is an agent for National Van Lines, which was given the privilege of displaying the exclusive design by environmental artist Wyland as a "thank you" from the artist for a decade of corporate support and their involvement in the Ocean Challenge - a phenomenal undertaking that required exclusive use of a National Van Lines' driver and vehicle for more than two months, incorporating stops in at least two locations in each of 48 states. Since then, more than 20 long-distance drivers have had the special full-coverage decal applied to their trailers. Drivers and agencies displaying the decal are hand-picked for their commitment to safety and customer service.
This isn't the first time Bobby Vann has made an investment in Wyland's artwork. He first met Wyland at a National Van Lines convention in San Antonio, and was instantly impressed by "a young man with a huge cause." As a result of that meeting, Bobby and Diana followed Wyland to his San Antonio gallery, where "a fan and his money were soon parted," Bobby says. They left with two paintings, and have purchased seven more since.
Ironically, Bobby doesn't swim, not even in a pool, let alone the ocean. He's terrified of the water. Nonetheless, he believes that many things in life - in fact, the very existence of life - revolves around the ocean. Whether it be weather changes, the migration of fishing areas, or oil drilling, man and the ocean are constantly interacting.
The American Way drivers say they are often pulled over at weigh stations, only to have state troopers pull out their cameras and ask to get a picture taken with the truck.

For more information on the Wyland Foundation, visit www.wylandfoundation.org.