While Candy Lincoln’s little brother was serving overseas in the Vietnam War, the letters and taped voice recordings he periodically sent home were treasured by her and other family members.

Her father, himself an Army veteran, kept each most recent letter tucked safely in his shirt pocket until the next one would arrive, sometimes months later.

“He grew up really fast,” Candy Lincoln said of her brother who, eventually, returned home safely.

“We were the lucky ones,” she added, explaining that many families were not so fortunate.

Candy Lincoln and her husband, Scott Lincoln, also a Vietnam War veteran, recently handed down their business Lincoln Computers to their son and are now spending their retirement giving back to veterans and service members with hand-crafted gifts of gratitude.

Scott Lincoln crafts fine wooden pens by hand from a variety of woods including holly and blackwood. The majority of the pens are engraved with military insignias; each branch of the military is represented within his collection.

Scott Lincoln said his wife bought him his first lathe a few years back, giving him the idea to build pens as Christmas gifts for friends and family. With practice, his hobby developed into an art form and he estimates that by now he has produced hundreds of the pens, most of which he gives away to servicemen and servicewomen and fellow veterans as a token of appreciation.

He sells a few of the writing utensils now and again and gives some to other pen turners for sale at auctions, but any profit gained from sales goes directly back into the business for purchase of materials.

At last month’s Veteran’s Day parade in Oak Harbor, the Lincolns handed out pens to military personnel and veterans free of charge.

The couple also recently gifted one to a World War II Army veteran at an American Legion bazaar.

“He was overwhelmed,” said Scott Lincoln, recalling the elderly man’s surprised and appreciative reaction. “It was just great.”

Candy Lincoln sews quilts which she too gives away to veterans. She said she had heard about Quilts of Valor Foundation, an organization which donates quilts to anonymous service members and veterans in order to provide comfort and healing, but decided instead to distribute hers to individuals she and her husband know.

“This way it’s a more personal connection for us,” she said, adding that there is “no shortage” of friends and acquaintances for whom to make the quilts.

Candy Lincoln has lost track of how many quilts she’s produced thus far, although her husband estimated she’s made several dozen. As for Scott Lincoln’s pens, he said he has distributed hundreds.

“It’s a win-win for us,” said Scott Lincoln. “We get to enjoy our craft and enjoy giving them away.”

“I’m a very big believer in taking care of our vets,” said Candy Lincoln. “There wouldn’t be an opportunity to give the quilts to veterans if they hadn’t done what they did.”

“People don’t realize what they’ve done for us,” she added.

The Lincolns applauded the work of the Veterans Resource Center and said the organization has done a lot for veterans, everything from providing social events like bazaars and barbecues to offering haircuts and referrals to social and medical services.

“Most of our veterans ask for nothing and should be given everything,” said Candy Lincoln. “They are very proud. They won’t ask for anything.”

For the Lincolns, helping wherever possible has become an integral part of life.

“We’re always there,” said Scott Lincoln.

As for what community members could do to better serve veterans, Scott Lincoln said that lending a helping hand and a listening ear is essential.

“Listen to them and see what they have to say. They did a lot for us,” he said.