Gurley, AL April 23-24, 2016

[EddieB]

The Royal Rangers met once again at beautiful Haven Farm for a private Patriots' Day Project Appleseed event.  The instructors of course were pleased to see so many familiar faces, and to meet the newcomers.  The Alabama springtime weather could not have been more perfect!

After the shooters were welcomed and the instructors introduced, we started the morning off with the telling of the First Strike of the Match and the massacre on Lexington Green.  Marksmanship instruction began with safety briefings and line commands, then the first Red Coat target was posted.  We went through an interesting variety of drills, each one exercising one or more fundamentals and preparing us for the Appleseed Qualification Test!  We heard about the brief skirmish at the Concord's North Bridge during the Second Strike at lunchtime, then it was back to the firing line.  Steady improvement was seen in all the shooters throughout the day.  Following the Third Strike and the intense fighting on Battle Road, we fired on the afternoon Red Coat target, then called it quits for the day.

Sunday morning brought another beautiful day.  After a quick review, we resumed our instruction and drills until lunch.  We heard about several dangerous old (and young) men (and women).

We celebrated the 241st anniversary of Patriots' Day by giving a detailed timeline of events that happened in Lexington and Concord on the day our nation was founded.  Later in the afternoon we talked about the Bloody British Butchery broad sheet, showing the news of April 19, 1775 as it was written in the days and weeks following that fateful day.  We concluded with a Volley for Liberty where we remembered and honored those who died gloriously fighting in the Cause of Liberty and Country.  The instructors, and some of the shooters, choked up several times as the emotions became powerful.

All the drills and instruction came into play when we shot our AQTs.   Dirrett earned his Rifleman patch with a score of 210, and was baptized with ice cold water from the North Bridge!  He later scored a 218, proving that he is a man who knows very well what he is about.  Several other shooters were knocking on the door.  Remember, riflemen persist!  Dryfire practice at home will pay off at your next Appleseed.

Ervin remarked several times how much he was enjoying the history, and he proved it by asking for a Blue Hat!  Huzzah, and welcome to the cadre!

We had a wonderful weekend.  Thanks to our host, Haven Farm.  Also, thanks to the Royal Rangers who provided lunch both days.

Please to tell your family and friends about your Project Appleseed experience.  Let them know about the sacrifices our founding generation made that gave us the freedom we enjoy today.  Remember it is up to us to maintain that freedom for our posterity.  We hope to see you (and your family and friends) at another Appleseed soon!

AH1Tom and Schutze demonstrate various ways of using a USGI sling.



T.J. 8 tells The Second Strike



Cleveland tells The Third Strike



rx7spd217 perfecting his marksmanship skills



Bruce clears the Red Coat!



All Ready on the Firing Line!



Grinding AQTs!



Remembering Patriots' Day



Cleveland earns his Red Hat!



Dirrett finds out just how cold North Bridge water actually is!



Ervin takes a Blue Hat!



For more photos, please see my Photobucket:
http://s288.photobucket.com/user/EddieB_AS/library/Gurley%20AL%20April%2023%202016