Christmas trees serve another purpose for disabled veterans

Some residents in Keene's Pointe were disappointed to hear they couldn't hold their annual bonfire in December, but they can rejoice in knowing the unused firewood is actually going to a worthy cause.

About 65 Christmas trees collected for the outdoor fire are being repurposed into canes for disabled military veterans.

This is the second year Oscar Devere, a Eustis resident and disabled Navy veteran, has worked on his tree-recycling project. He has received help from West Orange County each time.

Dan Kuhl, a weapons instructor with the Navy Reserves who lives in Winter Garden, saw Devere's idea on Facebook and knew he wanted to get involved.

Once the holidays were over and Christmas trees began showing up by the curb, Kuhl was out picking them up with his golf cart and truck. He cuts the limbs off each one and periodically drives a batch to Devere.

In the first year, he delivered about 70 trunks. This year, Devere has received around 120 from Kuhl and the Winter Garden community.

HOW IT STARTED

The first cane was made in 2015 from a cypress branch Devere found while fishing. He said he had so much fun making it that he created seven more.

When he decided to turn this into a larger project, he put the word out, and veterans from all over the United States began requesting a personalized cane.

“I made a video asking, ‘If anyone needs a cane, I will make one for you for free,’ ” he said. “The video went viral. The orders came in, and in 15 days we had to stop; over 500 orders were taken. I read the stories, and I could not say no.”

The craftsman continued making the canes and kept running out of wood. That’s when the management at the Lowe’s store in Mount Dora offered to donate the Christmas trees the store couldn’t sell. Devere received 181 trees.

He figured out how to make a thick and sturdy but lightweight cane, and he invests about four hours into each one. Each cane includes details pertaining to the veteran’s military branch and service record, and Devere purchases decals — such as aircraft, war ships and military insignias — for further personalization. He might add a challenge coin or other items the family or veteran requests.

And he always adds a penny with the year the vet entered the service.

He set an initial goal of 500, and last week he made his 507th. He gives away all of his work; veterans do not pay anything for their canes.

He does, on occasion, raffle one off to help recoup his expenses.

“I've made canes for veterans with no fingers and a cane for a veteran who could not bend his wrist,” Devere said. “My canes are more than just a helper to walk. They get attention. Those who never talk about their war now talk. They stand tall as they did the day they entered the service. … They stand taller because they got their pride back. They hold their head up.

“This story has no end,” he said. “I will continue to make canes until my last breath. It helps me to clear my mind from my problems.”

“Oscar is a super nice guy, and he's just doing this purely out of the kindness of his heart,” Kuhl said. “I'm glad we could help him.”

Follow Devere and his project on Facebook at Free Canes for Veterans.

 Contact Amy Quesinberry at [email protected].