Woodcraft volunteers turn over 13,000 wooden pens for military personnel

More than 13,000 one-of-a-kind wood pens crafted at Woodcraft’s 11th Turn for Troops National Turn-a-Thon are on their way overseas and to rehabilitation centers — gifts for military personnel who serve to protect the United States.

Woodturners gathered at Woodcraft stores nationwide in November to turn 13,227 pens — 1,953 more than in 2013 — to bring the 11-year total to 119,489.

Turners at Woodcraft in Tucson, Arizona, made the most pens (3,180) for the fourth consecutive year, while the Nashville, Tennessee, store leads in total number of pens turned (11,571) in the last 11 years.

“Woodcraft extends sincere thanks to volunteer woodturners and store personnel who continue to make this annual Turn for Troops event a success,” Woodcraft president Jody Garrett said in a statement. “We know from the recipients’ notes that these pens carry an important thank-you message to soldiers overseas, as well as those who are recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty.”

For information, visit www.woodcraft.com.