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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Fellow Carvers,</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Sharon and I are back from teaching the woodcarving class
to the disabled veterans at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Camp</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Pendleton</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. We are physically and
emotionally exhausted. </FONT></P>
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face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">As
you know the first class, scheduled for the first week of April, was canceled
due to a suicide. This last class was not canceled. Since the first class
was canceled they continue to have more suicides and attempts including one of
each while we were there. We ended up with 3 disables veterans in the class and
4 support staff. However the lack of numbers was not a problem. These Marines
were top quality in every way. They are very talented as well as hard working. I
think we have some new carvers in our carving community. The class was a great
success for the students as well as the staff. Sharon and I got much more out of
the class and a little better understanding of our heroes.</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">This
was a life-changing experience for both Sharon and I. They opened their heart
and let us into their lives. A lot of sharing happened over these 3 days. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some had a need to share their combat
photos and videos. Others were not ready to do that. Sharon and I got into a
part of the military they said no one from the outside has ever been. <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sharon</st1:place></st1:City> won their hearts
over. They said that they never, never give Wounded Warrior items to outsiders.
They made an exception giving <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Sharon</st1:place></st1:City> and I a large engraved Wounded Warrior
plaque with our names engraved. We also got 2 Wounded Warrior coffee mugs. They
said that we are now part of their family. </FONT></P>
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face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Your
generous donations made it possible. I told them about all of your donations.
Each of them has a great set of tools, several knives, books, videos and lots of
wood. They will continue to carve, I’m sure. Sharon and I are planning on going
back. Now that the staff knows us better they made us promise that we’ll spend
more time on our next visit.</FONT></P>
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face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Thank you all for making this possible.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Joe Dillett<BR>The Carving
Shop<BR>645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3<BR>Somonauk, IL. 60552</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">(815) 498-9290 phone<BR>(815)
498-9249 fax<BR><A
href="http://www.thecarvingshop.net/">http://www.thecarvingshop.net</A>
[business web site]<BR><A
href="http://www.carvingmagazine.com/">http://www.carvingmagazine.com</A> ['Ask
Joe' column]<BR><A
href="http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett">http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett</A></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>