AVON — Hot coals, molten iron and the clang of metal on metal. This is therapy, blacksmith-style.

Ken and MaryLou Zitur have owned Ken’s Custom Iron since 1988, creating ironwork and metal fabrication for home and business use, as well as products for use by other blacksmiths.

“We went all hell’s bells into it together, Ken and I,” MaryLou Zitur told the St. Cloud Times . “We’ve spent every moment together since.”

Now, they’re opening their doors to veterans with a yen for blacksmithing — for free.

At their “Blacksmithing for Veterans” event Nov. 10, nearly 60 veterans packed into the Zitur family’s workshop space for an open-forge experience that allows them to work at one of five stations, ask questions and socialize.

“I know my dad has had it in his heart to honor vets since I came back from active duty,” said the Ziturs’ daughter, Samantha Rule, who served in the U.S. Air Force and now works as a customer care manager for her parents’ shop with her husband, Justin.

“We’re really honored to be able to host this,” Rule said. “It’s not about us; it’s about the veterans. We can’t say enough how appreciative we are for them and their service.”

The idea to host a free event for veterans stemmed from a study discovered by Ken Zitur, which indicated that blacksmithing may be therapeutic for veterans suffering from PTSD.

“I think what’s special about blacksmithing is that it helps mentally and physically — you have to focus all your attention on the task, because there’s so much that can go wrong,” Rule said.

Blacksmithing is also a low-cost hobby for beginners, according to MaryLou Zitur.

“You don’t need a lot of money to do it,” she said. “Even if you can’t afford an anvil to pound on, you just need a sturdy piece of metal and a hammer.”