Woodcarvers present handcrafted gifts to area veterans

CEDAR RAPIDS - Eugene Dunn and Larry Berns still get around pretty well, but if either of them ever needs a cane, they'll be set.

The Cedar Valley Woodcarvers gave each of the World War II veterans a wooden cane sporting a hand-carved bald eagle on the top at the club's annual show Saturday.

"I don't need it yet - thank God for that - but I'm going to get a lot of appreciation out of it and make a lot of people envious,” said Berns, who lives outside Elkader.

The woodcarvers have been hosting the show for 20 years and giving the patriotic walking sticks to Purple Heart veterans for about six years, said Roger Norfolk, club vice president. It's a tradition borrowed from woodworking clubs elsewhere.

“It's very nice,” Dunn said, grasping the cane just below the bald eagle ornament. “It might come in handy. I don't need it yet but I'm ready to go now if I do.”

A crowd of at least 50 was on hand at the Longbranch Convention Center, 90 Twixt Town Rd. NE, when Norfolk presented the canes Saturday afternoon. The show continues today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Berns is a Clayton County native who joined the Army Air Corps as a high school senior in 1943. During his time in the military, he flew 22 missions over Europe. In March 1945, his bomber was shot down and he was captured in Hungary. He was liberated by General George Patton's troops the following May.

Dunn is a two-time Purple Heart recipient. He was drafted in 1944, trained as an infantry rifleman, and deployed to Germany. A machine gun bullet skimmed across his side sometime shortly before the Battle of the Bulge. Later, he was struck in the hand with shrapnel from an artillery round. Both times, his wounds were treated and he returned to duty.

“A lot of us woodcarvers are veterans,” Norfolk said. “Most of us, though, haven't had to bleed for our country.”

John Marion nominated Bern to be one of this year's cane recipients and crafted Bern's cane.

“It's great. I really love the opportunity to do this,” he said as he stood chatting with Berns.

Other members of the Cedar Valley Woodcarvers said they too are happy to lend some support to the veterans.

“There's not going to be a lot more of these World War II guys around any more and they need to know they're not forgotten,” Sherri Wilcox said.