The Modesto (CA) Bee tells the story that “for more than a decade, Ceres resident Jim Gollnick has been sending a handcrafted piece of home to troops serving overseas.”

“Gollnick, 70, creates elegant pens made of pink ivory wood, tulipwood, walnut, cherry and other woods. He’s even made pens out of old .50-caliber machine gun casings.”

“Gollnick has made more than 2,000 pens for military personnel and veterans and hundreds more for friends and family.”