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America Supports You: Woodcarvers Personalize Canes for Wounded Troops
America Supports You ^
| Monique Reuben
Posted on 08/03/2006 5:27:32 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, August 3, 2006 -- Some wounded veterans may never walk again, which is why Korean War veteran Jack Nitz wants to make sure they at least smile again.
After watching a news story about servicemembers who lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan, the former Navy petty officer first class decided to use his love for woodcarving to honor and support wounded troops by carving personalized presentation canes for them.
Presentation canes are an artistic symbol of support and honor to the recipient, he said.
Each individually hand-crafted cane is engraved with the wounded veterans name, branch, rank, and date and place of injury. Each cane features a hand-carved eagles head on the handle.
Nitz, who spent nine years in the Navy, said a simple cane takes 15-20 hours to create. Nitz and several members of the Eastern Oklahoma Woodcarvers Association have carved several presentation canes to give Oklahoma veterans who have suffered leg injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. The association has given personalized canes to 15 wounded servicemembers.
The response from the soldiers has been positive and heart-warming; I think they really have truly appreciated the support, he said.
Marine Sgt. Michael Donnelly, 23, said he appreciates the cane he received in January 2005. It goes everywhere with me, he said.
Donnelly, who is with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, suffered an open fracture and severed arteries Nov. 15, 2005, during his second deployment to Iraq.
During Donnellys two-month recovery at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., another Marine from his unit who was also hospitalized gave him a flyer about the project. His father found the flyer and contacted the group. A personalized cane was waiting for Donnelly when he arrived home.
When I found out that someone actually hand-carved this cane for me, it was just really inspirational, Donnelly said.
He acknowledged that his cane is not physically helping his recovery, but said the gift lifted his spirits tremendously. Its a hard time in my life right now, just thinking about my buddies that are still there (in Iraq) and stuff like that, he said.
It (the cane) doesnt help the recovery time; it doesnt make the leg not broken anymore; all it does is give servicemembers extra confidence that shows them there are people who have their backs, that they can keep their heads high. They can say, This guy made that for me.
Nitz carved Donnellys cane, but he isnt the only one carving canes for the wounded.
Inspired by what Nitz was doing in Oklahoma, Walter Wharton decided to get the Texas Woodcarvers Association involved. Now chairman of the cane project committee in Texas, Wharton said the organization presented its first cane to a young Marine in Conroe, Texas, July 18.
He said the organization also is scheduled to present 20 canes to injured servicemembers at Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio, Aug. 3.
Nitz and Wharton have teamed up with the non-profit group Soldiers Angels to help spread the word about their cane projects. The group is referring servicemembers to the cane project and paying postage for the canes.
Wharton, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, said the project is important to show servicemembers appreciation for their sacrifices. I remember the way our troops were treated after Vietnam.
It hurt our troops for a long time after, he said.
There is nothing more important to me than insuring that these men and women know they are appreciated, and what better way than to show that appreciation than to do something for those wounded men and women, he said.
Examples of presentation canes volunteers have carved for wounded servicemembers. Courtesy photo '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. |
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: america; canes; personalize; troops; woodcarvers; wounded
1
posted on
08/03/2006 5:27:35 PM PDT
by
SandRat
To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
Carving out a future for the Wounded Warriors.
2
posted on
08/03/2006 5:28:02 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
To: SandRat
Hee hee, makes me think of an especially bizarre cane a high-school classmate of mine made for himself while he was recuperating from a busted ankle...
3
posted on
08/03/2006 5:32:38 PM PDT
by
sinanju
To: sinanju
Now, now!!! Remember that this is a family friendly forum.
I can only imagine the end result of the carving session.
4
posted on
08/03/2006 5:34:17 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
To: SandRat
This thread reminded me - I wonder what ever happened to that restaurant in Washington that was giving steak dinners to wounded vets but about to get shut down?
5
posted on
08/03/2006 5:34:23 PM PDT
by
gondramB
(Named must your fear be before banish it you can.)
To: SandRat
Easy there, I said "bizzare," I did not say "provocative."
It was strictly abstract as I recall, I assure you.
6
posted on
08/03/2006 5:36:01 PM PDT
by
sinanju
To: SandRat
To: sinanju
I'll take that as "On Scout's Honor!"
8
posted on
08/03/2006 5:37:51 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
To: gondramB
They got new digs and are back in business.
9
posted on
08/03/2006 10:03:57 PM PDT
by
ASOC
(The phrase "What if" or "If only" are for children.)
To: ASOC
>>They got new digs and are back in business.<<
Thanks for the update. Its a shame they had to move but I'm glad they are OK.
10
posted on
08/04/2006 1:46:37 AM PDT
by
gondramB
(Named must your fear be before banish it you can.)
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