AAR: Hinckley, MN -- October 5-6, 2013

[AFTERMATH]

As always, Saturday was the perfect weather for Appleseeds! 
We didn't even have to water the freshly planted seeds - That was provided for free, courtesy of our Creator!

As the cold wind blew, the rain came down and around and a refrain was playing in the back of my mind...
...it's hard to hold a candle, in the cold November rain
Except, in Minnesota, that rain comes in Septeber/October and while it may be hard to hold a candle - The torch of Liberty burns hotter and a little rain ain't gonna stop that!  In fact, as the weather becomes inclement the flame burns that much brighter!

We should consider ourselves fortunate for such adversity.  It only makes us better and stronger in the long run. 
Trust me, we're going to need that strength in the coming days and hours.

Registration began at 08:30 and we were briefing at 09:00 - Off to a good start! 
Nine shooters from the metro area and as far away as Fargo prepared to face the Redcoats for the first time - Including a contingent representing Scout Troop 409.  While I hate to say it, we fared a little worse than Parker and his men...  We had our work ahead of us!
Thankfully, Taylor(Mike), Privateer(Bubba) and Weaslewoods(Dom) had quietly slipped across the boarder that morning to meet with Woody 35 and I. 

We quickly got to work.  Shooting away at squares and squaring away shooters.  Marksmanship improved.
We presented instruction and gave the shooters as much attention as they could handle.  Marksmanship improved.
When the groups finally got small enough, we proceeded to learn the other positions and marksmanship improved.

We wrapped up Saturday with quite possibly one of the best overall improvements on the Redcoats that I've ever seen.

Sunday morning we added one more shooter to the line.  After redcoats and some quick review we proceed to shoot more squares.  Marksmanship improved. 

Our line was reduced after lunch on Sunday as several shooters had commitments but never the less they went home with all they need to know about taking up their roll in continuing the Rifleman's tradition. 

We shot some AQT's - Marksmanship improved.
We did a few more drills - Marksmanship improved.
So, we shot more AQT's then marksmanship un-improved - Any good SB knows what that means.
It was time to wrap it up for the weekend - It was already pushing the seventeenth hour and the shooters had done well in the areas of persistence and perseverance.  They had demonstrated the determination of a Rifleman and though we did not hand out any patches this weekend, if the continue with the same grit - They will soon find themselves amongst the elite ranks of American Riflemen. 


Thank you to all who attended this event!  Much thanks to the instructors who picked up a larger load when the SB's couldn't talk... 


Keep that torch lit and spread the fire of liberty all across the country side!

See you on the Trail!



Alex

[Taylor]

A fine AS weekend with some OUTSTANDING young men and their dedicated leaders. 

Thank you all for coming out. I look forward to seeing you (along with some family/friends) again soon.

Mike aka Taylor