Inspired, Oscar began personalizing each cane with decals of the veterans’ units and medals. It took him over two years to complete those first 500 canes, and his stock of wood was running low.

Ladwig will give the Eagle Presentation Cane he carved to a Marine from Campbellsport, Wis., Lance Cpl. Joshua Wege, who lost both legs in Afghanistan.

While Willis and Garza have the wood to make canes, they need help to fill orders. Willis said they are about 800 orders behind right now, and they’re look for volunteers.

Bay City Lean on me: Michigan Woodcarvers Association's ornate canes honor vets in Bay County and beyond Updated: Nov. 11, 2014, 11:30 a.m. | Published: Nov. 11, 2014 ...

It took him over two years to complete those first 500 canes, and his stock of wood was running low. But a few days after Christmas, he got a call from a friend who worked at Lowe's Home Improvement.