You have most likely read about why we do this, this commentary will be about how we try to manage the Eagle Cane Program.
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First, there are no rules, but there are guidelines. As has been previously stated, we aim to provide PRESENTATION CANES to a select group of Post 9-11 Veterans who have received some manner of leg disability from combat related actions. These injuries include leg/foot amputations, gunshot, shrapnel, burns, nerve damage ect. In short anything that effects the legs and makes the recipient eligible for the Purple Heat Medal. -
The Presentation cane: See the books by -George H. Meyer– “American Folk Art Canes” and Jeffery C. Snyder –”Canes From the 17th to the Twentieth Century”. The Presentation Cane will be variously described as a “commemorative device, an advertisement for a product (Beer or a Political entity), a friendship symbol, but almost always a cane that is given for a reason other than everyday use.
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To be an effective Presentation Cane they should be well crafted Eagle Head canes inscribed with the Veterans grade/rank Name, Unit ID, Service connection, Date of injury and place or country where injured. Also included can be special request from the recipient that can cover a wide range of information including “ In Memory Of” items.
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Some kind of patriotic theme placed on the cane by the carver is great and encouraged, however, leave vertical space on the back of the cane for the vets personal information. It is probably best to wait until the personal information is received and applied before putting a finish on the cane – see carving hints.
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A lot of the recipients are located for us by non profit organizations such as Soldiers Angels, The Patriot guard Riders, The Blue Star Riders etc. The Soldiers Angels organization is providing forms distributed to critical areas where they have representatives and then the potential recipients are given the opportunity to fill them out and Email or Snail mail them to me for disbursement to the recipients.
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Home State Carvers. This is Key to the continuing success of the program, it makes it more personal to the recipient and encourages the home state carvers; remember, a lot of the Veterans are National Guard members.
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Other help in finding eligible veterans. FOOTWORK, almost every club will have a member who is especially suited to visiting VA Hospitals and quietly finding suitable recipients. We have to tread softly here, the military is especially aware of the” health information protection/privacy act. The military is also aware and wary of folks wandering around and asking a lot of questions. In a nutshell this part takes some finesse.
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How about all the rest that should be honored???? there are plenty! And many members and or clubs send canes to other than Post 9-11 vets with leg wounds. Just stop and think about what you can actually accomplish before you commit yourself or your club. There have been canes given to WW11 vets, Viet Nam Vets, MOH recipients, Canes given in “Memory Of”, and most recently close to 40 sent to a field hospital in Kuwait without knowledge of who will get them (this was in response to a request from a Nurse at the hospital to Solders Angels.)
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If, in your investigation of local VA or Military Hospitals you find eligible Vets from out of state who would like a cane carved by a home state carver, and if we have a club or individual in that state it would be nice to send the information to the home state carver or to me :thehickoryhiker@Gmail.com. Check the Participants Rooster for a “home state” club.
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Shipping and Handling: I recommend the USPS Priority Mail System.- The Priority Mail boxes, Labels tape and verification forms are available on line , free. We use the triangular Mail Tube for a standard eagle head cane without an added handle. The Tube will hold a 38” cane and wrapping. Other size canes, canes with handles can use a 6X6×48” box available from ULINE.COM, an order of 20 boxes cost me about $40.00 incl. Shipping. See the Cane Plan section for dimensions of a “Standard” cane.
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Information to get about a Vet: As stated previously, get the Vets grade/rank, unit Id, Service connection, DOI, place of injury, special request and ______ Cane length requested! (we can make them shorter but they are hard to stretch. Also do not forget to find out the Home State of the Vet
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Have a question? Contact me, Jack L. Nitz : thehickoryhiker@gmail.com
