Wood dust filled the air on Veterans Day as beginner and expert wood turners made Freedom Pens to send to deployed military personnel to brighten their holidays.

Approximately 50 individuals combined their efforts at the Denver and Loveland Woodcraft stores to turn over 200 pens, with more continuing to come in. These stores decided to place a special emphasis on local National Guard soldiers deployed in Iraq. Family Readiness Groups for the 169th Fires Brigade and 135th Aviation Battalion were contacted.

Both units are based in Aurora. Family and friends of the soldiers were invited to come and turn pens. Turners were encouraged to write a note to a specific soldier in one of the two units. All pens not used for the local units will be send to the Freedom Pens Project.

Pete Holtus, member of the Front Range Woodturners and turning instructor at the Denver store, shepherded the project, making sure pen kits were ready to turn and experienced turners were available to help beginners. When asked why he this project was important he replied, ". . . kids keep goin' over there." John Grimes lead the project at the Loveland store.

This is Freedom Pens' third year. It started on January 16, 2004, when Keith Outten sent an email to SawMill Creek Woodworkers Forums, saying, "I had an idea this morning to start making wooden pens and donating them to our troops overseas. . . A pen is a gift that a soldier can use to write home and it's small enough for them to carry. Hopefully the pens and their new owners will find their way back home safe and sound . . . Consider this post a 'call to arms' all ye pen-turners and honorable members of SawMill Creek."

His idea was picked up by Woodcraft and turning organizations across the nation. So far 59,984 pens have been sent to soldiers in the Middle East. The goal is to send 20,000 pens a year. While many turn-a-thons and special turning events are held on Veterans Day, this is a year around effort. Further information is available at www.freedompens.org.

Pens were turned at the Denver Woodcraft by people turning their first pen and people who have turned hundreds in their lifetimes. Turners were of all ages. I kept looking for purple fur because there was a rumor the wife of the Colorado Rockies mascot, Dinger, would come to turn a pen. I later learned I missed her because she came 'incognito.'

Turners included high school students, parents, retired workers, former military, government workers, military spouses, etc. Check out the pictures and comments of some of the turners from Saturday's session.