The following was released today by Woodcraft in their e-Mail "What's New at Woodcraft News Letter"
Thousands of American servicemen and women actively deployed overseas will receive a gift from home this November --- a handcrafted pen. As the first national sponsor of the Freedom Pens Project, Woodcraft stores will host “turn-a-thons” nationwide on Veterans Day, November 11, 2004 and serve as drop-off locations for pens starting July 4, 2004. Pens created and donated by individual woodworkers and craftspeople will be sent to U.S. troops as a constant reminder that people back home remember and appreciate their efforts.
“It’s an honor for our company to support this worthwhile program,” said Bryan Katchur, president of Woodcraft Supply Corp. “We anticipate thousands of people will donate their time and talents both before and on November 11 to turn pens in our stores and drop off pens they’ve previously completed. The collected pens will immediately be distributed to U.S. troops overseas through the organization’s founder, SawMill Creek.”
Since the program’s beginning in January of 2004, more than 6,000 customized pens have been created and sent to members of the armed forces. The all-volunteer effort was launched by members of the SawMill Creek Woodworkers Forum as a way to remind troops far from home that they are not alone.
“Each time one of our handmade writing instruments is used by a military person overseas to write a letter home, it’s a symbol of our support that the people of America care deeply about them,” said Keith Outten, project administrator for the Freedom Pens Project.
“Many Woodcraft stores have already participated in turn-a-thons throughout the first part of 2004,” said Ken Salisbury, a Korean War veteran and the project coordinator for the Freedom Pens Project. “The company’s determination to increase its involvement nationally is greatly appreciated and should serve as a catalyst for the creation of even more pens for our troops. Right now we’re receiving an average of 100 handmade pens each day to send overseas. We expect this number to grow significantly with the launch of our partnership with Woodcraft.”
Independent Woodcraft stores hosting turn-a-thons and/or making donations to the Freedom Pens Project during the first half of 2004 include those located in Peoria, Ill. (352 pens), Seattle, Wash. (350 pens), Tulsa, Okla. (166 pens), Ft. Worth, Tx. (134 pens), Charleston, S.C. (56 pens) and Norfolk, Va. (43 pens). Most of the 70+ Woodcraft stores nationwide are expected to participate in the Veteran’s Day Turn-a-thon, which should result in thousands more pens for our troops.
We have been working on this for some time. Now it is official. Woodcraft has joined the FPP as a partner. They will be collecting finished pens from July 4th through November 11th (Veterans Day) at which time they will be conducting Turn-a-thons at their stores across the nation.
I would like to personally thank Bryan Katchur, Peter Parker and Kathy Ziprik of Woodcraft. Thanks also goes out to Greg Heppeard and Jerry Stringer for their help in bringing this to reality.