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 once again with my eighth-grade students during the entire school year. First trimester students are currently cutting blanks to size and getting them ready for the pen kits which we will have received from Penn State Industries. It is a very worthy cause and the students get to help out the troops overseas. I know that they will perform well and get the job done! As mentioned earlier, we are working with Penn State Industries, who has donated 20 complete pen blanks and kits to help us along. My goal for this project is to get a minimum of 200 pens turned, manufactured, assembled, and shipped out to those two organizations to help out in these ventures. A special thanks to those companies for their contributions to our program goals of completing as many pens as possible before the end of the school year. We have finished 20 pens donated by Penn State Industries and are getting ready to ship them early in the upcoming week. A recent count put us at 200 pens completed. I am very happy that we have met my goal of turning 200 pen this year. I am very proud of all my student's efforts to make this goal into a reality. The other pens will be shipped to the SawMill Creek organization who in turn ships them overseas. 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 slide show below. Student pictures are soon to follow so please stay tuned!!!!! Please click on the attachment below to view a copy of the letter which is being sent with every pen made.

DMS students get recognized for their dedication and support to the Freedom Pen Project over the past school year. I am proud of our accomplishments and your devotion to our country and the people defending it. You guys and gals have been a pleasure to teach and I wish you the best as freshmen at NKHS!! Best of luck and I wish you all success in your future endeavors :) Mr. Berndt The importance of supporting and volunteering to help make things happen with the Freedon Pen Project can be summarized in the song "Have you Forgotton?" by Darryl Worley. Please listen to the music and enjoy the message that this song delivers. Thank you for your patriotism.