In January 2004, while watching an ABC News  about our wounded post 9-11 Veterans, I realized that there was, perhaps, a little something that I, a woodcarver and cane maker, could do to indicate to these young people our support and to bring some measure of honor to them. Since many of the Veterans presented on the ABC segment displayed leg wounds and amputations and would most likely be using a cane at some time, I thought that we could carve symbolic “Presentation” canes - not as an every day use object - but as an artistic representation of our support

and respect. After making a sample cane and showing it to several of the Eastern Oklahoma Woodcarvers Association members, the project was presented to the Club in April 2004 by member Stan Townsend and again by myself in May of 2004 when it was approved as a club project.

In addition to EOWA, the Green Country Woodworkers and the North East Oklahoma Wood turners participated in the Project. The Green Country Woodworkers provided 20 cane stands for the Oklahoma Veterans and the Wood Turners provided some the the cane shafts.

The initial scope of the project was to supply only Oklahoma post-9/11 veterans who have sustained some sort of combat related injury that affected their mobility or use of there legs. It soon became apparent that other carvers in other states could be involved and we could reach many more veterans. A group of Texas carvers soon joined the project and with the inclusion of an article on the project in one of our national carving magazines, more carvers nationwide became involved.

- Jack Nitz

If you know of a veteran with leg injuries sustained in post-9/11 service, contact Jack Nitz by phone (918) 299-2251 or e-mail Jack Nitz at thehickoryhiker@gmail.com or Stan Townsend at staninvent@cox.net.

You may look at our local club list to find a carving club in your area or e-mail us if one is not one close by.