Gofer
Member
After Master Corporal Bryon Greff was killed in Afghanistan (story) on 29 October 2011 I felt the need to do something for his family. As a serving member I have been fortunate that this is only the second time a death of a deployed member has affected me personally. This time it affected my family as well, our kids are in the same class in school.
I put a lot of thought into various ideas and stuck with making a pen for his son and one for his widow. I wanted to end up with something that my be imitated but never duplicated so I called on a friend for help. After a few phone calls with Marla and a few emails with her and Jesse we worked on my rough ideas and came up with an exceptional product that I think anyone would be proud to own.
I choose to use single tube components to make for a large "canvas" with nothing to interupt the image we were portraying. For his son I chose a Chrome Artist Sketch Pencil as all kids love to draw and color. I gave the girls my various thoughts of what I wanted with only 2 things that had to be there and they excelled in creating a blank that left me speachless. For his widow I chose a Zen and left Marla with only one basic idea, she and Jesse came up with a true masterpiece.
I followed Marla's suggestion on using a nice wood box for them as they will probably be treasured more than used. I had my friend Gord who owns Langer Craft Works do the laser engraving on the boxes. He volunteered to do the woek last minute when he found out who the boxes were for.
The pencil and pen were given to them last night after the school Cristmas concert. Emotions ran high and many tears were shed, by everyone in the room (except the two 6 year olds who kept playing), the whole family was very appriciative of the gift and were grateful for the love and support they felt. I can say that it was a perfect way to finish a great evening.
Now to the pens, up first an Artist Sketch Pencil:
I was inspired with the idea for this pencil by a six year old boy who saluted the soldiers at his fathers funeral when he came out of the church and again at the cemetery.
And now a peaceful Zen:
To me a fallen soldier is remembered every year on November 11th and symbolized by the red poppy. May all of our fallen rest in peace.
This project would not have been possible if I did not have the help of the incredible talents of Jesse and Marla helping me to make the pens. The boxes would not have been anything special without the engraving done by Gord. For these three people I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me in this project to support the family of a fallen Canadian Soldier.
Bruce
I put a lot of thought into various ideas and stuck with making a pen for his son and one for his widow. I wanted to end up with something that my be imitated but never duplicated so I called on a friend for help. After a few phone calls with Marla and a few emails with her and Jesse we worked on my rough ideas and came up with an exceptional product that I think anyone would be proud to own.
I choose to use single tube components to make for a large "canvas" with nothing to interupt the image we were portraying. For his son I chose a Chrome Artist Sketch Pencil as all kids love to draw and color. I gave the girls my various thoughts of what I wanted with only 2 things that had to be there and they excelled in creating a blank that left me speachless. For his widow I chose a Zen and left Marla with only one basic idea, she and Jesse came up with a true masterpiece.
I followed Marla's suggestion on using a nice wood box for them as they will probably be treasured more than used. I had my friend Gord who owns Langer Craft Works do the laser engraving on the boxes. He volunteered to do the woek last minute when he found out who the boxes were for.
The pencil and pen were given to them last night after the school Cristmas concert. Emotions ran high and many tears were shed, by everyone in the room (except the two 6 year olds who kept playing), the whole family was very appriciative of the gift and were grateful for the love and support they felt. I can say that it was a perfect way to finish a great evening.
Now to the pens, up first an Artist Sketch Pencil:
I was inspired with the idea for this pencil by a six year old boy who saluted the soldiers at his fathers funeral when he came out of the church and again at the cemetery.
And now a peaceful Zen:
To me a fallen soldier is remembered every year on November 11th and symbolized by the red poppy. May all of our fallen rest in peace.
This project would not have been possible if I did not have the help of the incredible talents of Jesse and Marla helping me to make the pens. The boxes would not have been anything special without the engraving done by Gord. For these three people I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me in this project to support the family of a fallen Canadian Soldier.
Bruce
