The Freedom Pens Project is an all volunteer effort spearheaded by the members of SawMill Creek Woodworkers Forums to provide custom hand crafted pens to American servicemen and women overseas. SawMill Creek welcomes anyone who is interested in our project and willing to donate their time, talent or services to assist us in our goal of providing beautiful writing instruments for our military stationed in foreign countries who are in harms way. Every Freedom Pen that is delivered will serve as a constant reminder to our troops that they are not alone and will have our continued support until every one of them returns home. I have decided to take on this challenge with my eighth-grade students during the third trimester. We are currently cutting blanks to size and getting them ready for the pen kits which we will be receiving shortly. It is a very worthy cause and students get to help out the troops overseas. I know that they will perform well and get the job done! Here is a message from Charles Bishop at Saw Mill Creek trying to help out the cause by donating wood for our pens that we are making for the troops: Hi Mr. Berndt, I read your post's about having your students make Freedom Pens and would like to make an offer of some wood for blanks. This is a wonderful thing you and the students are doing and can be a valuable learning experience for them. The wood is mahogany and is salvaged from an Apache shrimp boat that was destroyed by hurricane Katrina. The Drury family of Venice, LA owned two boats, the Apache Drums and the Apache Trail. Both were destroyed. They donated the wood to various people to make small crosses for presentation to relief volunteers, churches and families of American military casualties in Iraq. The Drury family was asked about using the wood for the Freedom Pen project and was quite enthusiastic about it being used for such a purpose. The pictures below show student’s efforts to get these pens made to help to accomplish our mission of helping out the troops!!! Each student will be writing a letter to be included with their pen to show their support for freedom. Mr. B has made the first pen check it out in the slideshow below. Student pictures are soon to follow so please stay tuned!!!!! Special thanks go out to School Resource Officer Ed for his contributions and expertise in getting this venture off the ground. Pen turning has become contagious and the turning fire has been started!!! Please click on the attachment below to view a copy of the letter which is being sent with every pen made.