What can I say but, "WoW! What a weekend!!" This Appleseed epitomized the reason why I took up my Orange Hat in Oct. 2011. These people, these Liberty minded people, who came to the GMSA Range in Toccoa, Georgia this weekend are the driving force behind my eagerness to participate in every Appleseed event that I possibly can attend.
We were indeed blessed to have a total of 49 shooters get down in the dirt and gravel with us and practice that skill that our Founders cherished so, the skill of marksmanship. With 40 pre-registered shooters and a beautiful Spring-Break weekend, this Shoot Boss just knew that there were going to be quite a few no-shows. As it turned out, we had seven walk-ons Saturday and only three no-shows! Sunday saw another six walk-ons! What a great turnout. There are a great many folks in the North Georgia area who are doing some fine 7th stepping. My gratitude to you all for making this venue as crowded as it was.
Saturday dawned cloudless and beautiful. Shooters were showing up before we even had our 7:25am Instructor's meeting! Eager? Yes they were! We started the day with our mandatory safety briefing and then three lines of shooters engaged their first Redcoat targets of the day. Us instructors could tell that we had some work to do. (One very bright spot was a bolt gun shooter who cleared that target!! Well done, Brandon!) All of the pillars required of a Rifleman were presented to the shooters, the true events of April 19, 1775 were given with the Three Strikes of the Match and when the day was done we found one new Rifleman amongst us. Huzzah! to Robert for scoring a 226!
Sunday dawned just as beautiful as the previous day. Because the GMSA Range has an agreement with local churches about Sunday a.m. shooting, the morning was spent reviewing Saturday's fire hose of information and then we heard a top notch Known Distance presentation from DrJohn. An early lunch was had with some "Dangerous Old Men" and "Gallant Women and Children" stories. Then, promptly at noon, our pursuit of rifle marksmanship resumed. When the last AQT was shot right at 5:00, we found ourselves with four more Patriots who could proudly call themselves a Rifleman(woman). Brandon and Jason each shot a 221, Tyler managed a 227 and Renee found herself a 213!! Huzzah!! to you all!
The fine Instructors who signed up for this shoot were invaluable. With four Red Hats on the roster I thought we might have too many, I was wrong. They and the IITs all dove right into the needs of these shooters and really made this event the success that it was. With three crowded lines, they made sure that everyone was safe and that the shooters were learning and enjoying themselves. Well done, folks, well done indeed!
As per usual, this SB did not get much for pictures but I know there were a few attendees with cameras clicking the whole weekend. Please feel free to post a pic or two to share with the others. Thank you, very much!
I am dog-tired and smiling broadly as I enter this AAR. This is what I signed up for, this is all the payment I need to continue. Thank you to the shooters and instructors who gave their perfect weekend to help save the sinking ship of Liberty. May Liberty Increase!
Morpheus
HUZZAH!!!!
This was an impressive event by any measure. We had an oversold attendance due to the very effective promotions of any number of Patriots in the north Georgia area, for which we are most grateful. We had an eagerness and determination among our fine students that made it both a pleasure and a privilege for the instructors to work this event. And we were treated to an awe-inspiring rendition of Patrick Henry's speech before the Virginia House of Burgesses, on behalf of aiding the beleagured colonists in Massachusetts Bay. During this very moving and inspired Saturday benediction by Morpheus, one could have heard a pin drop, and every eye was fixed on him as he so eloquently delivered the words that inspired our honored ancestors so long ago.
Sunday we added four new Riflemen (this is not a gender-specific term!) to the one we had Saturday, plus four new Orange Hats. God bless and prosper all of you! We capped Sunday afternoon by going to the Actual Distance part of the range, and proving that what works at 25 yards, works at 100 yards as well...and at 200, and at 300 yards, as our long-distance students settled down and began to fire at the steel targets so generously provided us by one of our new instructors, Fabricator. And these shooters not only hit these distant steel targets with centerfire rifles, but out to 200 yards with their .22s as well. Huzza to you all, to Morpheus, was managed this large and very challenging venue with such expertise, and to our superb group of Georgia instructors, who gave of themselves so gallantly and generously. Huzza, all!
What a great Appleseed weekend! There's not much I can add to the comments already made by Morpheus and DrJohn but HUZZAH! This was one of the largest shoots I've participated in during my 2 years in Appleseed and the efforts made by the Shoot Boss and his family, literally, of Appleseed instructors to fill the line obviously paid off.
I made a lot of new friends and I also welcome the new members of the Appleseed instructor cadre into the family.
The few iPhone pics I managed to remember to take can be found here: http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/Ramblinwreck77/library/Appleseed%20Events/Toccoa%20Appleseed%20April%202013
I'm looking forward to the next Toccoa event in June.
Ramblinwreck
A spectacular weekend! Toccoa, the birthplace of my awakening, and, while the faces of the instructors have evolved, the ability to DELIVER is burning proof of our desire to forge Americans with the fire of Liberty.
Our invigorating shoot boss truly embodied the spirit of Patrick Henry, I'd even go so far as to suggest "channeling", with the most superb recitation of "Give me Liberty or give me death" speech I have ever heard. His notes became the sabre raised against tyrants, as his learned mind let his heart take command. Beyond words to see the tears in all our eyes.
I got a personal treat in meeting two new attendees who live close enough to home that I can walk to theirs. One "new" neighbor Patriot actually lives literally one street away...and we've never met in over 10 years of this proximity. A serendipitous weekend!
At the start of Saturday morning in the club house, it looked almost a little scary with the seemingly small cadre of "hats", but almost as if Divine Intervention were shining upon us, the instructor corps blossomed!
We really had a blast this weekend. The fellowship and comaraderie is priceless. It is an honor to be with all of you in the cause of Liberty. ^:)^
-goose
This shoot was amazing! The shooters were very enthusiastic and payed close attention to the history and instuction. I have never seen so many shooters at an appleseed and it was a great joy to see them all. I know that many couldn't wait for the next shoot! Huzzah to all the new riflemen/riflewomen! Huzzah to those who decided to take up the orange hat as well!
I must also say how overjoyed I was to see so many women, young and old, shooters there were! I had a great time working with them and I could tell they enjoyed their time there. I can't wait for the next toccoa shoot because I know I will definatly see some of them again!
Red Niva
Another HUZZAH, to the GA crew. Glad to hear full lines and great instructors to help them learn. I'm sure if instruction was the same that i seen when i was helping those shooters are 100% more effective shooters than they ever thought to be. Congrats on a great turnout. Congrats to the new rifleman, congrats and welcome to the new orange hats.
Looking forward to working with you all again someday. Ben (connibear)