Huzzah!!!
We were truly blessed with shortsleeves weather at the end of November and it helped us have a great day of shooting out on Lloyd's Wildlife Management Area range, Northern Kentucky's best place to get out there and make some noise!
We were able to concentrate on the basics and take several brand new shooters to not only safe and knowledgeable rifle operators, but crack shots! Great groups by the end of the day and those redcoats didn't stand a chance. Group sizes were halved by all and they were actually on the paper.... and the right target. Huzzah!!!
More importantly, those new shooters also learned some new history and had a new understanding of their heritage. They're fired up to take it with them and pass it on. I can't wait to see how these folks reinitiate that antique phone tree and come on back with some friends. Huzzah!!!
Jeff already beat me to the AAR so I'll post the link here - http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=26424.msg201333;topicseen#msg201333 (http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=26424.msg201333;topicseen#msg201333)
It was an honor having you and your daughters on the line and a real treat to know they're literally taking the message nationwide in just a few short weeks and have already started locally. I saw quite a few "real-time updates" from the line. Instant feedback is wonderful! Hope to see you folks again soon. And I hope to meet all the people on the receiving end of those facebook posts!
Kevin and Jared, it was really cool to have you guys "just show up" and see the improvement you made throughout the day, the fun you had together, and the determination Jared showed. "I wanna shoot!" Huzzah! Whenever you guys are ready to come back, just let us know.
Ethan and Tom, it was my pleasure to work with you guys all weekend... even in Sunday's pouring rain! I had a lot of fun spotting for Ethan at the end of the day as well. "HIT!.... HIT!..... HIT!" HUZZAH! Just goes to show when you nail the basics at 25 you can nail the targets at full distance.
Folks, this event was unique in the fact that it was dad and kids, dad and kid, dad and kid. (And even dad and kid in the instructor corps as well.) When I saw young Jared on the line and Ethan, I couldn't help but think of Luther Blanchard or the younger Johnathon Harrington standing in line with their kin, facing down the regulars and what their fathers and mothers must've felt as they raised them from their slumber and helped them prepare. The young ladies instantly conjured up images of Sybil Ludington and how she'd alarmed the countryside without a pause. She just took action and did what was right. Katie and Kara have done the same thing!
I love events like this. When John Adams talked about Posterity... I think he had these folks in mind. Keep up the good work, don't forget to dry fire practice, and we'll see you all on the range again soon.