Signs given to Veterans

A group of locals wanted to do something special for the Veterans at the Col. Robert L. Howard Veterans Home in Pell City. Mike Pinkston, a retired comedian, came up with the idea of creating wooden signs carved with the branch of service to give to each Veteran at the home. 

“These put a smile on people’s faces,” Pinkston said. “One guy said it was much better than the traditional socks.”

Pinkston worked for three months carving each sign, “making sawdust” and using a router to write the names of each branch into the wood. He then stained and sealed each one. In all, Pinkston made around 400 signs and took 260 to the Veterans. 

“I love working with wood,” said Pinkston. “It’s very therapeutic for me.”

Mike Thomas, a retired EMT and military veteran himself, donated the wood and stain for the project. Faye Sanders, owner of Killin’ Time in Pell City along with some of the employees created baskets filled with apples, bananas, oranges, candy, and over 250 packs of cookies donated by Bud’s Best.

This is the first year the group has donated to the Veterans home.  Mike Pinkston organized the Cops for Tots program for 17 years. This year he decided to do something for veterans. 

“I love doing it. I’d do it again tomorrow,” Pinkston said. “I’m sure next year we’ll do something for the veterans again. It made us all feel good.”