To Earl with Gratitude – A Legend and a Patriot

[OnlyHitsCount]

I have been meaning to share with you a story for the past few weeks now, but the busy AS schedule has prevented me.  I hope you will forgive the delay.

On a recent Friday night many Washington state instructors gathered around to discuss the business at hand.  We needed a new State Coordinator.  Introductions were made around the BBQ 'cause, after all, whenever ID and WA come together there is food!    I had heard rumors about the larger-than-life Earl, and I had read many of his posts, but would the man in person live up to the legend?  As we settled into the meeting, we each had our personal reasons for coming.  Reformed Redneck was asked for his inputs on the duties of State Coordinator, while others and I were looking for leadership. 

Earl, on the other hand, had a different purpose.  Right away he let us know that he was there to pass on a few possessions to other WA instructors, then named something that went right over my head  , and a demo rifle.  'Wow!' I thought.  'Wouldn't I love to have my own demo rifle?!'  I had just been admiring one on the line in Cd'A a few months back, and here was my opportunity!  But, there were a whole lotta folks here that surely would be interested, too, most of whom had known Earl longer than the 30 minutes I had. 

After some brief discussion and a few lighthearted jokes, I casually asked if there was anyone interested in the demo rifle, then quickly shot my hand up in the air!  Earl looked me over, then asked if I had a 'hat'.  I stated that I indeed had an orange hat.  'Where's your red one?' he asked.     I laughed and told him that I had only received my orange hat in January.  Give me time.  Five minutes and a few more probing questions later and Earl went to retrieve the demo rifle.  (Suddenly the quip about the whiteout made sense!  )  Earl gave me the run down on what needed to be done with it; it would benefit from iron sights, don't leave it in the rain, a little white paint touch-up, etc.  Then he turned and presented me with a case, simply saying 'These go with it.'  I was stunned to open the case and find two matching Remington 597 .22 long rifles, complete with slings, tech sights, and spare parts!   

Earl wanted nothing more in exchange than to know that these would be made available to anyone willing to use them at every Appleseed I attend.

Well Sir, I have attended two shoots since you bestowed upon me this great honor, and they have been used and appreciated at both.  Your generosity and patriotism will not be forgotten.   

OnlyHitsCount

[Dinky Dao]

What an awesome story...

God love ya, Earl. It's people like you that make this program great.

[Cooper]

Earl is indeed a true gentleman and an inspiration to us all.

Cooper

[Blue Five]

That's great What an inspiration 

[Western Rose]

Earl, you've taught me tons and tons... and through me, you've taught many more. I look forward to seeing you again sometime soon and learning more from you. Thank you!

[Evenstar]

Thanks for the write-up Amy. It was an honor to have been there to witness it.
Earl, what can I say? Dinks is right, it's people like you who make the program what it is. (What? No hats-backward smiley??? ) You've taught me most everything I know about being an instructor, and have helped me to be a better person. I'm looking forward to the next time I see you, maybe to plop a shiny new hat on my head.

Thank you for everything!


*SMILES*

[SPQR]

I have a soft place in my heart for teachers.  I reckon it takes a lot of arrogance to be possession of great skills and to not teach them to others.  Some such person uses their skill as something to lord over others in a desperate attempt to satisfy their own vanity and create a cocoon of pride that, when pressed, will only prove weak and fragile.  I pity those folks.  They often hide behind a concept of personal freedom in an attempt to legitimize their behavior.

Yet it is the teachers, ah the teachers, who realize something far greater than a house of cards pride.  It is the teacher who is willing to take personal responsibility for making their world better.  The teacher is willing to sacrifice what is theirs and give it to others freely.  They do so because they understand that survival goes beyond personal freedom and extends to collective responsibility.  The teacher knows that helping others around them become their own perfect person makes, not only that person, but the community around them better.  In a nutshell, the teacher has decided that making the world better is their personal responsibility.  That arrogant man who makes no such effort is little more than a child who has discovered a loophole in the rules of a board game in the face of such gallantry.

In a world with water coming in over the sides, is it not the measure of a man to have others claim that he has, "helped me to be a better person,"?  Is the legacy of America not in its teachers and the number of men about whom could be said, "through me, you've taught many more,"?  Good Heavens, what people of mighty constitution must this program attract.   Patriot indeed. 

[Earl]

OnlyHitsCount? yeah, I have that and her REAL name in my head.

Thank you, for carrying on and passing on the Heritage, and building our future. I accept the Gratitude with more grace than the story, but the story is a rocker, so if I weren't mentioned I would still love it, it is kind of a modern DOM story.  I would talk to your editor about the Title, Earl will never be a Legend (one has to be a departed hero to be a real legend, or never existed anywhere except in the minds and hearts of the teller and listeners). When the story about who Earl was gets bigger than the I (that will take a lot of growing) then I won't know him, but smile contentedly. Do you ever think that those three DOM we talk about thought they would be remembered years and years after they had passed on? What they gave had no future, it was for the moment and the time - the victory would last only as long as the story is remembered. Keep telling the story, and teaching safe sane marksmanship, I hope to see you all along the trail.

Thank you for all your kind thoughts, now get back to work, quickly, quickly, quickly....

[Josey Wales]

..Earl is a good man, a high son of liberty..

..Strength & Honor.........Josey Wales.....

P.S.  I miss your presence Earl....Bless..

[Roland]

Amen to all of the above. Earl is probably the reason I have this thing next to my forum name that says "Instructor in Training". It's a shame I never got to work the other side of the line with you, I have a feeling it would have been a great experience.

Hope to see you on the trail,

Roland/Dirk

[type3malfunction]

People make all the difference.
A year ago, I wasn't sure what to expect from my first Appleseed.
One nice surprise was the quality and commitment of the staff.
Earl made a big impression and still ranks number one in my mind.