[BobD]

I got an e-mail the other day from a gentleman about this project by the Eastern Oklahoma Woodcarvers.

http://eowca.com/cane_project.htm

In a nutshell, the carvers banded together with a woodworking association and a woodturning association to make presentation canes for the post-9/11 vets who recieved leg injuries.

I'm including an article in the next issue on it, but I wanted to mention it here too!

Bob

[Kenny_S]

A special program and worth while.
Know several members of all three groups and several soliders who have recieved Eagle head topped canes. Very appreciative men.

[Tom H]

That's a great program to promote. Tom H

[Eddy Smiles]

I'd ran across their website before. I'm looking forward to reading your article. We tried to garner some interest in our club for a similar project but weren't successful. I've made a couple of woodspirit canes and given them to Vets that I ran across that showed an interest in them. The problem is finding a way to identify potential recipients. I even thought about taking one or two with me when I go for my next VA appointment and seeing if I could find anyone that looked like they needed one in clinics. Unfortunately, confidentiality regulations prevent the VA from giving out any information. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I'm all ears.

[Lightningbolt]

I would also be interested in donating sticks to wounded Vets but like Eddy, they're sometimes hard to identify so it's great to see larger groups of folks like a carving club band together to accomplish this very worthwhile project.

Perhaps if such a club can find a way to organize the project on a much larger scale thus mainstreaming a way for the "silent majority" to participate and donate then perhaps greater things can happen. WCI seems to be taking one such step in that direction and I'll be very interested to see what follows.

Wounded Vets first but I believe that every soldier deserves their very own woodspirit stick!! They represent the very best of America and should be told so!

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I too think this is a great project. Unfortunately, I was told by one of the EOA groups members that the canes could not be distributed through the VA due to libelity concerns. While that might sound uncaring when you think about it you can't really expect the VA to approve of these canes when they have no control over how they were made. I could just see the reports on the evening news should some amputee be injured by a walking cane given out through the VA. Still, it's a worthy project a carving club has undertaken. I've seen a lot of the walking canes they've carved so far and they're really great.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have seen the site, saved the patterns and made one cane so far..however my neighbor was in the Air Force (yeh, I know, but what can you do ) and loved the cane, so I gave it to him.. I need to do some more, and when I drive the DAV van to the hospital, I will find out what the story is.....I do know its for people that just need "stability" not total body weight, I am sure most of us can build a cane that would handle even that, but because we do not have the engineering degree behind our name, our opinions don't mean much in the day of "lawyers"! (which one day will be over by the way!) imho

[Kenny_S]

In talking with different club members in OK,they are having problems in finding disable vets, as Lynn said, the liability is a probem and the privacy act comes in to play also.

My suggestion is, if you know a vet, disable or not, Carve him an Eagle head topped cane and give it to him.Show him your appreciation for his service. You will find a very appreciative person.

It doesn't have to be a vet from the Gulf wars, Any vet!

[BobD]

I can see the point with the VA, and the site is asking people who know of injured vets to contact them...so I see the magazine article as a way to reach more people.

I agree that ALL vets deserve a cane. I'm thinking of carving one for my wife's grandfather...WWII, Battle of the Bulge, he was an ambulance driver!

Bob

[Kenny_S]

That is a start for sure Bob. He will apprciate it for sure.