Ramseur, NC
May 29-31 2010
3 Day Memorial Day Weekend Appleseed
Shoot Boss: txpirate (Saturday) 7.62BBQ (Sunday)
Instructors: Lawrence, Len1459(Monday), Hawkeye(Sunday), LawMan(Sunday)
(This being an Appleseed following a Rifleman Boot Camp, there were plenty of orange hats trying out their IIT skills. I don't remember everyone's forum name.)
Wow. What a great weekend it was for 26 Americans out enjoying their freedom and remembering those who died to give them their freedom. Besides being hot and muggy, the weather was excellent and a good time was had by all.
Saturday started off bright and early with registration, introduction, and safety briefing, before getting into the redcoats. The results of the morning's redcoat target showed a lot of room for improvement, and we quickly got to learning sling usage, position, how to fire the shot, and natural point of aim. Lawrence gave a beautiful and thorough rendition of the 1st strike at lunch, before we got onto the greencoat targets. Firewall99 joined us after lunch, and did a great amount of coaching shooters and new IIT's alike. In the heat of the day, we had a break for the 2nd strike before getting to our first AQT. No riflemen on Saturday, but some were knocking on the door. Before the closing remarks Saturday, CaptMac moved us with a 3rd strike that left a few cheeks wet.
Due to my prior obligations on Sunday, and 7.62BBQ's obligations on Saturday, the shooters arrived Sunday morning with a new Shoot Boss. Since we can't shoot till 12:00, Hawkeye demonstrated the breakdown of a Garand, and what it means to be an American was discussed by 7.62BBQ. Once legal shooting hours were reached, the AQT grind was began. We had 2 new riflemen on Sunday. Fantastic!! There were men (and women) present who know what they are about, indeed.
Twice a year we have the opportunity to have 3-day Appleseed weekends, and what a treat that 3rd day is. Len1459 and Lawrence were coaching shooters through AQT's at the 25m range, and 7.62BBQ and I had several shooters at the full distance range. There was 1 new rifleman at 25m on Monday. After sighters, we got through 2 whole full distance AQT's on Monday. Although there were no new full distance riflemen, some valuable lessons were learned by all as we did experience a 2 MOA elevation shift due to weather in between the 1st and 2nd AQT's.
To remember is to honor....
Thanks txpirate. I think you over-estimate my story-telling abilities in saying that there were "a few wet cheeks" after my telling of the third strike. Nevertheless, I'll take the compliment.
At any rate, Saturday was great, and part of me really wanted to stick around for the rest of the Appleseed. However, I was also itching to get home, so I see my wife after a week away, with me sleeping in the woods and experiencing the "Ramseur Greenhouse Effect." It was nice to get back to a bed and comfortable plumbing.
This was the first time I was on the other side of an Appleseed, wearing an orange hat. It was fun all around. I enjoyed being the Line Boss, Saturday afternoon. I was kind fo surprised when someone said they could hear me while over on the known-distance range. I need to get the cadence down for making the calls better.
The other new IITs on the line Saturday were Nathan, Michelle, and Doug. I know what each said they intended to use as forum names and will add those names when I can. In addition to the new IITs, Lawrence, Firewall99 and txpirate, we also had a few other vistors in nicely colored hats visit the Appleseed line, including Smithy.
The biggest plus for me was seeing a huge smile on the face of one of the teenage shooters that was there Saturday. When you see someone that happy and you had a little something to do with it, it makes you feel great.
Thanks to all the old and new instructors! They were all great and we had great time. All of the history segments were awesome - each time they are a little different and well worth hearing again.
This was my 3rd, but the first for my youngest so it was the first time I had all 4 there. She just turned 8 and wanted to come back each day! The others are 13,13 (twin boys - their 3rd appleseed too), and 10 (her second). I have to say that the instructors had more patience with them than I did sometimes. They got a little worn out, especially by the end of the 3rd day, but they hung in there and want to do it again in the fall. This time we'll dry fire and practice at the range in between - really!
There we a couple of other families there with kids, and they hit it off and had a great time during the breaks and other down times. Kevin said it was the first time he'd seen frisbee on the range. We may be visiting Waxhaw NC or Orlando KY in the future to see them again.
Thanks again!
DadOf4