cdcarter
Member
Has anybody else around here participated in the various efforts to make pens for servicemen? There was an article a couple of months ago in one of the woodturning magazines about the Canadian version of the effort, I think.
I thought I would share the following letter I'm enclosing with a pen and phone card to a local kid who grew up in our church, is a friend of my daughter's, and is now serving as a captain in Iraq.
No photo, since there's nothing special about the pen.
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Dear Michael,
You don’t know me, but I’m Lindsay Carter’s dad. Lindsay was home for the weekend, and we were in church this morning -- in the Veterans Day service, actually -- when Dr. Savage announced your request for phone cards for your men, so I’m enclosing one.
I also wanted to send you something else. Knowing how far away you are from your family and your new bride, I thought you might enjoy something to remind you of home. I turn wooden pens as a hobby, and I made the enclosed one for you from a cherry tree that was taken down last year in Riverchase.
This style is called a “Cigar Pen,†and maybe you’ll think of it as your “victory cigar†as you look forward to the end of your tour. Of course, I hope it will also remind you of the many friends back home who give thanks for your service and pray for your comfort and safe return.
I imagine the pen will take a beating in Iraq, so when you get home, contact me and I’ll make you a new one of your choice that you can enjoy with pride in your civilian job. Then you can retire this one to your box of war mementos to pass onto your children.
As you may have heard, Kevin has purchased and moved in a home in Trussville, and I know he and Lindsay would want me to relay their best wishes.
Be safe. I look forward to meeting you, shaking your hand and thanking you in person.
I thought I would share the following letter I'm enclosing with a pen and phone card to a local kid who grew up in our church, is a friend of my daughter's, and is now serving as a captain in Iraq.
No photo, since there's nothing special about the pen.
---
Dear Michael,
You don’t know me, but I’m Lindsay Carter’s dad. Lindsay was home for the weekend, and we were in church this morning -- in the Veterans Day service, actually -- when Dr. Savage announced your request for phone cards for your men, so I’m enclosing one.
I also wanted to send you something else. Knowing how far away you are from your family and your new bride, I thought you might enjoy something to remind you of home. I turn wooden pens as a hobby, and I made the enclosed one for you from a cherry tree that was taken down last year in Riverchase.
This style is called a “Cigar Pen,†and maybe you’ll think of it as your “victory cigar†as you look forward to the end of your tour. Of course, I hope it will also remind you of the many friends back home who give thanks for your service and pray for your comfort and safe return.
I imagine the pen will take a beating in Iraq, so when you get home, contact me and I’ll make you a new one of your choice that you can enjoy with pride in your civilian job. Then you can retire this one to your box of war mementos to pass onto your children.
As you may have heard, Kevin has purchased and moved in a home in Trussville, and I know he and Lindsay would want me to relay their best wishes.
Be safe. I look forward to meeting you, shaking your hand and thanking you in person.
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