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Keith Outten
02-02-2004, 12:37 PM
Freedom Pen Program Update

Periodically it will be necessary to provide updates on the Freedom Pen Program to keep everyone informed. We are now in the third week of the program and we have made more progress than any of us could have dreamed in such a short period of time. From the first message that I posted asking for volunteers to make pens the response has been staggering. It is true that we did not expect such a rapid pace and were not ready to assemble a nationwide campain overnight. Some of our members are concerned about our ability to manage the Freedom Pen Program given the explosive growth we have seen. To be perfectly honest I have known all along that when the major workload arrived that we would have plenty manpower from our members at SawMill Creek.

We are receiving offers from woodworkers everywhere to produce pens and to donate materials. Most of these offers also include information about friends and neighbors who also want to get involved and support the program in any way they can. We are also receiving offers to help from the first wave of woodworking groups or guilds. Large groups of Wood Turners will be a major source of our pen production in just a few weeks as some of these groups represent a force equal to the size of SMC, literally hundreds of woodworkers with lathes and the necessary experience to help us reach our goals.

Distribution of our pens to our troops in the field seems to be the major area of concern. We are still waiting for the United States Army to respond to our request for help. Our military liason, Mike Leonard has been working very hard to establish an official and approved method for us to deliver our precious cargo that will assure every pen is placed in the hands of the people most deserving. The Army is very busy these days as you all know, they have a huge mission that is important to us all.

We will receive the cooperation of our military, but we need to be patient and understand that these things take time and that our military has procedures to follow designed to protect everyone involved. The reason I am so sure that we will receive cooperation is that their boss works for the American people and when we rise up together in significant numbers our voice will be heard. The news media is just now starting to read our message and they will deliver it to Washington DC for us via television, newspapers, magazines and radio.

Please continue making pens and contacting the media in your local area to spread the word about our Freedom Pen Program. This is the most important activity we need you to support right now. Every Member of SawMill Creek has been asked to serve as an ambassador of the Freedom Pen Program. Those of you who are allready active in the program have made a difference and your efforts are appreciated. Those who serve and sacrifice to protect the Freedom we enjoy deserve our support...make a pen for a Patriot!

Ours is a monumental task that we will complete with ease by being persistant and dedicated to our only goal. We will let our sons and daughters know that the American people are behind them with all of the force we can muster and more importantly our prayers for their safe return.