SAN JACINTO, CA – The Patriot Woodworker, an organization dedicated to sharing the equipment, skills and love of woodworking with wounded veterans, recently announced it has equipped a woodworking shop for an Iraqi War veteran with severe visual and speech impairment.

The veteran, Specialist E-4 Mark Wilson of Palmyra, Missouri, a former combat engineer who served two tours of duty as an explosives expert tasked with locating and disarming improvised explosive devices (IEDs), was injured in a non-service-connected firearms accident. Wilson, an avid woodworker even before his injury, now makes an array of products he will shortly begin selling through garage sales, flea markets, newspaper ads and a website.

In accepting the contributions, Wilson said "My passion has always been woodworking. Before I deployed I enjoyed making picture frames, benches, wall shelves, small tables, plaques, and boxes in my garage. I now attend a specialized woodshop program through the Hines VA Blind Rehabilitation Center, where I'm learning advanced adaptive and safety techniques for different tools. There's no way I can express my gratitude to everyone who has helped me return to woodworking, despite my injuries."

To date, Wilson has received a dust collector, bandsaw and tablesaw from Laguna Tools. He has also received a collection of woodworking clamps from Bessey Tools of North America and wood turning lathe tools from Easy Wood Tools.

The Patriot Woodworker organization was founded in 2010 by John Morris. Today Morris, along with Site Administrators John Moody and Ron Dudelston, remain strongly committed to helping veterans who have selflessly given to our country since September 11, 2001 and have returned home with serious injuries. The organization accepts contributions of woodworking tools, as well as financial contributions. The Patriot Woodworker may be reached at (951) 570-9711 , via email at [email protected], or by mail at 977 Sussex Road, San Jacinto, CA 92583.

The Patriot Woodworker is a group dedicated to assisting disabled veterans with an interest in woodworking.

To learn more or donate to the Mark Wilson Project please visit http://thepatriotwoodworker.com/page/project-mark-wilson-combat-enginee…

Source: The Patriot Woodworker