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Thread: Freedom Pens - General Information

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Hayes, Virginia
    Posts
    14,760

    Freedom Pens - General Information

    The Freedom Pen program is an all volunteer effort spearheaded by the members of SawMill Creek Woodworkers Forums to provide custom hand crafted pens to American servicemen and women overseas. We welcome anyone who is interested in our project and willing to donate their time, talent or services to assist us in our goal of providing beautiful writing instruments for our military stationed in foreign countries who are in harms way.

    Every Freedom Pen that is delivered will serve as a constant reminder to our troops that they are not alone and will have our continued support until every one of them returns home.

    Additional information and links to all pertinent messages here in our forums are now available on the Freedom Pen Project Website at;

    http://www.freedompens.org

    Who Makes The Pens?
    Freedom Pens are being made by individual woodworkers everywhere, from small towns to our largest cities, amateur woodworkers are donating their time, talent and personal funds to create custom pens as a symbol of their support for our military men and women.

    How Can You Get Involved?
    We need your help to advertise our program, create pens and assist in funding the cost of providing pen kits and materials. The Freedom Pen program has just started to evolve and the members of SawMill Creek are all participating in the development and creation of the program. Additional details will be posted publicly right here in our forums as the program develops.

    Where Can I Ship My Pens To?
    SawMill Creek Woodworkers Forums are sponsored by Hampton Roads Online (HRO), a small Internet Service Provider located in Yorktown Virginia. HRO has volunteered to receive and distribute all pens created for the program. The shipping address is;

    SawMill Creek C/O
    Northwind Associates Inc.
    8770 Little England Rd.
    Hayes, VA 23072

    I Don't Own a Lathe, How Can I Help?
    Our Power Tool Forum Moderator Ken Salisbury is working on a system that will provide information concerning financial assistance and services we will need to help us promote the Freedom Pen program. We will need to purchase pen kits and materials to supply some woodworkers who have the equipment and talent but do not have the financial resources to purchase materials. The cost of materials for each each pen is very inexpensive however with the number of pens we hope to produce we will need to ask for monetary donations. All of the details will be made available in just a few days.

    We will need woodworkers who do not own a lathe to help us prepare wood turning blanks for those who are producing pens. Anyone who would like to provide lumber, even in small quantities would be a valuable asset to our program and we welcome their assistance. Often workshop scraps can be used to prepare turning blanks for pens.

    Our immediate need is to get the word out to newspapers, radio stations, television stations and magazines about our program. If you are able to assist by contacting the media and letting them know about our program we would certainly appreciate your efforts.

    What are Our Goals for the Freedom Pen Program?
    We believe we can ship over 20,000 pens this year. Our target number is relative to the number of woodworkers who are willing to participate. Financial support will be necessary but we can produce hand crafted pens at a very low cost since all of our labor is a volunteer effort. The progress of our Freedom Pen program will be updated regularly here in this forum and on a new web site under development right now.
    The members of SawMill Creek have already pledged to produce hundreds of pens so we expect to make our first shipment overseas in late January 2004.

    The men and women in our military forces serve and protect many nations all over the world. They are provided the very best equipment and technology by our Government but they need moral support from home, positive assurance that the people of our country are behind them every minute of every day. When one of our hand made writing instruments is used to write a letter home it is a symbol of our support and physical evidence that the people of America care deeply about their safety and are praying for their safe return home.

    It is a privilege for the members of SawMill Creek Woodworkers Forums to develop and provide continued support for the Freedom Pen program. Our members are responding to our call for help and are excited about getting involved with such an honorable project that will touch the hearts of our sons and daughters in harms way.

    www.sawmillcreek.org

    If you would like to join us or you can lend a hand in any way we would be glad to have your help and your support with our Freedom Pen Program. You may contact any of our members, they will all be willing to share information concerning our program or answer any questions you may have. Ken Salisbury and myself are also willing to answer questions or to assist you in any way we possibly can.

    Contact Information;

    Keith Outten, Freedom Pen Project Adminstrator
    keith@sawmillcreek.org
    Cell Phone 757-871-8214

    Ken Salisbury, Freedom Pen Material/Financial Coordinator
    Last edited by Keith Outten; 04-12-2018 at 12:40 PM. Reason: Edited to update the address

  2. #2
    I am a new member of this forum as a result of hearing about the Freedom Pens project. I feel this is an admirable undertaking. I plan to support this project by contributing pens. I don't know how many just yet. If I receive permission from American Forests, who owns the wood I plan to use for my first contribution, I will send some of our pens made from the "Last Liberty Tree" from Annapolis, MA. I can't think of a more fitting tribute to the Troops for the job they are doing.
    History of the wood from this tree can be seen here:
    Kenn
    Last edited by Kenn Hill; 01-19-2004 at 9:09 AM.
    "When you come to the fork in the road, TAKE IT" - Yogi Berra

  3. #3

    Thumbs up

    Sounds like a great idea. Do we have to buy from your supply or can we use some of own choosing? Are pen boxes needed and can we include our business card?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Huntsville, AL (The Sun and Fun Capital of The South)
    Posts
    3,203
    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Lajoie
    Sounds like a great idea. Do we have to buy from your supply or can we use some of own choosing? Are pen boxes needed and can we include our business card?
    Use whatever kits you would like. You definitely do not have to buy from our bulk buy program. As a matter of fact it is better for you to procure your kits individually yourself which will reduce the workload on me cooordinating orders, shippping tracking, etc.

    A note as to who made the pens or who donated the money for the pens is appropriate. I personnally do not think "business cards" per se should be included - but that is your decision to make.

    Pen Boxes are not required - we are in the process of determining the packaging we will use to ship them overseas. In the meantime you can wrap your note around the pen and ship to the Hampton Roads address
    that has been posted
    "If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high - but so are the rewards" - - Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
    Ken Salisbury Passed away on May 1st, 2008 and will forever be in our hearts.

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Kenn Hill
    I am a new member of this forum as a result of hearing about the Freedom Pens project. I feel this is an admirable undertaking. I plan to support this project by contributing pens. I don't know how many just yet. If I receive permission from American Forests, who owns the wood I plan to use for my first contribution, I will send some of our pens made from the "Last Liberty Tree" from Annapolis, MA. I can't think of a more fitting tribute to the Troops for the job they are doing.
    History of the wood from this tree can be seen here:
    Kenn
    I have now received permission to use this wood for this project from American Forests-Famous & Historic Trees. They agree this is a worthy effort. I will be sending our first donation in the very near future.
    Kenn
    "When you come to the fork in the road, TAKE IT" - Yogi Berra

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Newport News, VA
    Posts
    120
    Kenn,

    Keith and I had an interview yesterday for an article to be posted in the base newspaper. I mentioned you and your "Last Liberty Tree" pens. She would like to mention you in the article. I told her I would clear it with you first. So, will you give us permission to use your name and mention the "Last Liberty Tree" pens in the article?

    Mike
    "The idea that "violence doesn't solve anything" is a historically untrue and immoral doctrine. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. People that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms."

  7. #7

    News Article

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Leonard
    Kenn,

    Keith and I had an interview yesterday for an article to be posted in the base newspaper. I mentioned you and your "Last Liberty Tree" pens. She would like to mention you in the article. I told her I would clear it with you first. So, will you give us permission to use your name and mention the "Last Liberty Tree" pens in the article?

    Mike
    Mike,
    Feel free to mention my name or anything else about the Last Liberty Tree pens I will be sending in the very near future. History about the tree can be found at this page: http://www.kennspenns.com/pens/treesliberty.html
    Thanks,
    Kenn
    "When you come to the fork in the road, TAKE IT" - Yogi Berra

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Damascus, MD
    Posts
    216
    I don't turn, but I have scraps of cherry as well as oak and maple that I would gladly mill into solid blanks. Just let me know the dimensions and where to send them.
    Jim Stastny ~ Damascus, Maryland
    A poor workman blames his tools

  9. #9
    3/4" x 3/4" x 6" is the standard pen blank dimentions

    THanks
    for your help
    Julie

  10. #10
    There was a story on your project on our local news last night (Huntsville, AL) and I just wanted to say what a wonderful project I think it is! I would like to help but have no background in wood working or anything like it. What could I do?

    Also, is there a way to add a group of soldiers to those on your list to receive pens? I have been corresponding with a soldier who I have never met via email who is stationed in Iraq and would love to get him and his group a set of your beautiful pens. Please let me know if there is a way to add them to your shipping list.

    Thanks and keep up the wonderful work!

  11. #11

    Welcome!

    Thanks for joining SMC and for supporting our Freedom Pen Project. There are many ways you can contribute, and the best part is, you don't need to be a Woodworker to do so! That is the beauty of the Freedom Pen Project, we are getting support from folks from all walks of life. This really is a grassroots campaign to help our Troops. Could you do me a favor though? The terms of service require all Sawmill Creek members to register with the first and last names. I overlooked this when I joined too, as have many others, so don't feel alone. Just send a PM, (Private Message) to any one of our Moderators, and they will gladly update your profile to reflect the new information. We will have the website up and running soon where folks can contribute to the cause, so check back often. Welcome Penny, we are happy to have you as a member of Sawmill Creek!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Huntsville, AL (The Sun and Fun Capital of The South)
    Posts
    3,203
    Quote Originally Posted by Penny J
    There was a story on your project on our local news last night (Huntsville, AL) and I just wanted to say what a wonderful project I think it is! I would like to help but have no background in wood working or anything like it. What could I do?

    Also, is there a way to add a group of soldiers to those on your list to receive pens? I have been corresponding with a soldier who I have never met via email who is stationed in Iraq and would love to get him and his group a set of your beautiful pens. Please let me know if there is a way to add them to your shipping list.

    Thanks and keep up the wonderful work!
    Penny,

    Please contact me by telephone ( I am in the Huntsville directory)

    Ken Salsibury
    "If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high - but so are the rewards" - - Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
    Ken Salisbury Passed away on May 1st, 2008 and will forever be in our hearts.

  13. #13
    Keith,
    I have taken the liberty of copying your opening statement for this thread and pasting it on my web site concerning Freedom Pens. Please see this at this address:
    I have also put a link to the Freedom Pen Web Site. If this does not meet with your approval, please let me know and I will remove it from the site immediately.
    Thanks,
    Kenn
    "When you come to the fork in the road, TAKE IT" - Yogi Berra

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Huntsville, AL (The Sun and Fun Capital of The South)
    Posts
    3,203
    Quote Originally Posted by Kenn Hill
    Keith,
    I have taken the liberty of copying your opening statement for this thread and pasting it on my web site concerning Freedom Pens. Please see this at this address:
    I have also put a link to the Freedom Pen Web Site. If this does not meet with your approval, please let me know and I will remove it from the site immediately.
    Thanks,
    Kenn
    No problem Kenn - I looked at it - great job - keep up the good work
    "If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high - but so are the rewards" - - Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
    Ken Salisbury Passed away on May 1st, 2008 and will forever be in our hearts.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Coatesville, PA
    Posts
    958

    Hey Kenn

    or anybody else with their own web site. I made a banner link to put on my (non woodworking) web site. Feel free to use it if you want to.
    It's a little bit larger than a normal link button - but I was able to make room on my site for it. I took the design from Aaron's great button layouts. If someone is interested but needs it smaller or a different design - let me know & I'd be happy to make one for you.

    BTW Kenn, I want to thank you for securing the last liberty tree wood for the program - I really think that is awsome.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    God Bless America!

    Tom Sweeney BP

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