And they're made for veterans, too -- if the carvers can find some

It's not an original idea, nor an original design, but it's a project and a cause that suits the members of the Carroll Carvers Club like, well, a fine walking stick.

The hand carved walking sticks created by the carvers are crafted to honor U.S. veterans and the sacrifices they've made.

"It shows our appreciation to the people who sacrificed more than the rest of us," said Arpad Juhasz, president of the club and a veteran himself. "It's a good way to show thank you from John Q. public."

With an eagle head and wings and an American flag carved in each, the staffs cannot officially be called walking sticks or canes -- they don't meet certain qualifications, according to club member Pete Turner..

Still, they are hand-made "morale boosters," said Juhasz. Each one can be personalized with a veteran's name and branch of service.

"It's a fairly intricate piece," Turner said. "It has a lifelike head. We got special eyes, like they use in taxidermy. It's an impressive piece, I have to say."

Now, if they can just find some veterans to honor.

"The privacy act protects all the information on people who got hurt," Juhasz said. "It protects people from any intrusion or inquiry. But, it hurts our efforts to get a hold of them."

"It has been a little more complicated than we thought," Turner admitted. "We know there are people out there who would love to have this."

The club hopes to make about 12 staffs a year to give away -- if they can find veterans who could use them.

"Twelve is not a lot, but it takes time to do and put together," Turner said of the construction. "We do some carving at meetings."

Meeting once a month at Carroll Lutheran Village, the Carroll Carvers first learned of creating canes for veterans from a newspaper article a member shared. Having wanted to have a community project, the club embraced the idea.

"We wanted to do some type of program where we could do something good," Turner said. "A number of us are veterans and this is something we wanted to do."

The staffs are free to veterans, especially those serving in Iraq who were disabled or injured.

"There is no charge," said Juhasz. "We really are more concerned with the human being that is there than anything else."

This is not the first project the club has done. A carved "quilt" depicting 4-H programs in its wood squares was done by the club and hangs in the Agricultural Center in Westminster. Another project included a carved bear that used to be on display at Bear Creek, until weather took a toll.

All of the club's members are excited about the eagle walking staff project, with many hands taking part in the making of each cane.

"Everybody is doing their part," Turner said. "One lady is an extremely talented wood burner, others are good at painting, others carving and still others at cutting out rough. There is a whole group of people and everybody is doing a little."

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