Sorry, Fred, we didn't break 100 (No excuse, Sir), but doubled from Feb's event with 44 shooters on the line today.
Excellent instruction by SB - Voortrekker, SNAITF, Sleepy Joe, my match director John (who is not on this forum, but a Rifleman in his own right), and myself.
The special Redcoat honoring the sacrifice of our fallen heroes of April 19, 1775 was a nice tribute and after the shooters realized that all around the nation coast to coast we were doing this simultaneously as the largest firing line in our nation's history we were all that much more impressed and honored to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
Seven Rifleman produced today which is pretty good considering we only shot one AQT after drilling on 1-inch squares and Greencoats all day.
Oh, yeah - we made local news...
CBS 7 arrived after receiving and responding to an email of Fred's press release I sent 'em and did a nice piece at 06:00 and 10:00 tonight.
A good time was had by all.
More to come tomorrow...
Just great!!! Even the news guys. Texas rules!
News story:
http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=11902
2 in targets?
This one's in the bag and it was great.
Twenty-seven shooters on the line today and another two Rifleman were hammered out bringing the total up to nine new Rifleman for the weekend. Several shot qualifying scores more than once and two of 'em stepped up to become IIT's.
Quote from: Appalacious on April 19, 2009, 10:16:33 AM
2 in targets?
Of course, you realize that most people in the news media have never shot before and often misquote or report gun related topics, not necessarily due to bias (although it's there), but sometimes out of pure ignorance of actual experience. One of the local media won't be able to say that after today. The photographer from yesterday's story showed back up and borrowed an LTR. His high score for the day was a 176 - great considering this was the first time he had ever handled a Rifle in his life. :o He'll be back. O0 It's always good to turn 'em early when you can. <:)
Once again, I'd like to thank Voortrekker, SNAITF, and Sleepy Joe for travelling across the Great State of Texas to make this happen. I also want to thank my match director John K. for helping bring this to our club, John D. for helping me build target boards specifically for these events, and all of the shooters that showed up and allowed us to pass this great thing of ours along.
In case you haven't heard, the best Appleseed is the last one you attended. This one was no exception. ;D
I think Voortrekker has some pics to follow. O0
Cheers.
Quote from: Appalacious on April 19, 2009, 10:16:33 AM
News story:
http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=11902
2 in targets?
Thanks for the link! Just sent the news station an email thanking them for the coverage of the event, and how much I wanted to see more of it in the future! >:D Anyone else?!? &)
I sent a brief "thank you" message to the Assisgnments Editor who originally responded to the press release and invited them back to future events at our range.
I think a few thank you notes would be nice, but let's not bombard them. They did us a great service and I don't want to sour the relationship with too much spam.
Now back to the AAR...
Another great weekend, spent with fine American Patriots! Many thanks to the instructors for their fine work, and time spent traveling to and from the event. Special thanks to Midland Shooter's Association for the use of their fine range.
Our friends from Austin just left on thier way home, and asked that I pass on their thanks as well. My buddy, Phil, is retired army and spent a lot of his career shooting comptetivly on various military marksmanship teams; including the 2002 Winston P. Wilson, National Guard Championship, Texas Composite Shooting Team. He told me that in 20+ years of military shooting, he was never taught to use a sling for anything other than carrying his rifle. He said he learned a lot this weekend and had a great time. High praise for the Appleseed program from someone who has a VERY impressive case full of rifle marksmanship trophys at his home. It was a thrill for us all to see his 14 year old son receive his rifleman's patch on Saturday O0. The son was quite smug about the fact that "Dad" didn't get his until Sunday ;D
Saturday's volley fire as the names of the April 19th, 1775 fallen were read, was moving and emotional for me. Sent chills down my spine as the names were read and answered with volley fire from the line.
It was especially good to see all the young folks on the line, learning both rifle marksmanship and the history of who they are. Those young folks are the best hope for the future of this country!
From Leslie and I both: Our best to all, and we hope to see you soon, on the Appleseed trail!
Quote from: wcmartin1 on April 20, 2009, 09:27:51 AM
I sent a brief "thank you" message to the Assisgnments Editor who originally responded to the press release and invited them back to future events at our range.
I think a few thank you notes would be nice, but let's not bombard them. They did us a great service and I don't want to sour the relationship with too much spam.
Good point. . .got a little excited I guess. :) @)
And I forgot to mention . . . great job out there, guys! O0
Man, what a great experience the Midland April 18-19 AS was!
Sleepy Joe and I had traveled together, staying at Voortrekker's Dad's property on Thursday night. Voortrekker and I rode together from there to Midland on Friday with Joe and his son following us in Joe's mini-van. All of us met up with wcmartin1 and John K. at the wonderful Midland Shooters Association range and planned out the small details for Saturday.
Voortrekker was our diligent SB. He and I greeted and registered our merry group of shooters, then we started off with introductions, a safety briefing and line commands. We were fortunate to find more than one shooter was trained in first aid - a trauma nurse and an EMT. It was great to see a number of kids and women present. Wcmartin1 and John K. and others set up the target stands and did a lot of other work as well to get the range prepped.
Sleepy Joe gave a down to earth First Strike speech. Then we jumped into shooting the first Redcoats of the day and 1" squares.
I was line boss Saturday morning until we stopped for lunch. I was truly surprised when the CBS 7 Midland TV reporter appeared Saturday AM. I remember first looking over and thinking - Man, that shooter sure has a nice camera. When I learned it was a television reporter, I wondered what views his editor might take on an event like this. John K. and shooter Smokey B. both agreed to be his victims, ER, I mean be interviewed by him and they did a fine job representing Appleseed (I didn't see the video until I got back home). The only minor issue with the report was the mention of 2" squares instead of 1" (I don't think he was deliberately trying to lower our standards...).
When John K. learned that the reporter had never fired a rifle, John K. made an effort to remedy that misfortune by finding him a rifle to use for a brief period. The reporter seemed thankful for the opportunity.
We broke for lunch and Voortrekker gave the Second Strike speech. Voortrekker was line boss Saturday afternoon. He gave me the privilege of calling the names of the fallen on Lexington Green when we participated in the nationwide Redcoat (I think Voor knows how much I like to bellow out "FIRE!" >:D). The winning team had 24 hits on their target.
We only shot one AQT late afternoon on Saturday, but it was worth the wait because what we taught the shooters throughout the day just might have sunk in a bit. 7 shooters, including a 14-year old boy, produced Rifleman scores.
The shooters at this event were salt of the earth and a true pleasure to work with. Everyone I worked with had a good attitude and was willing to learn. Every instructor/IIT was offering to go the extra mile. To me, Midland is infested (in a good way) with like-minded people. I felt more at home there than I do at home!
We even had a range mascot who would pop up to help clear the line after the last CEASE FIRE was called.
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8497/img5730x.jpg) (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img5730x.jpg)
Most shooters returned on Sunday morning, including our CBS 7 reporter returning as an enthusiastic shooter on the line on Sunday (his scores were in the 170's if I recall correctly). After check in we covered safety rules again, etc. and then I told the story of the Third Strike. Sleepy Joe was line boss Sunday and did a fine job calling the line, hammering out Redcoats and AQTs. During Sunday lunch break I told of the Dangerous Old Men (and women).
We did have a safety issue come up. When I'm expounding that the CEASE FIRE command is not a yellow light, I've adopted something I've heard Scout say regarding why you stop immediately for CEASE FIRE - "You never know if a curious kid has just appeared on top of the berm..." I've never really expected to actually see that situation manifest, but Sunday AM while I was left side RSO, it did.
On Sunday afternoon while the shooters were firing at an AQT, out of the corner of my left eye I noticed something appear on top of the berm dividing the AS range from the range to our left. A curious young boy (8 year old is my guess) had climbed to the top of the left side berm from the opposite side. He was about even with our firing line. I cast off my momentary disbelief and began to march in that direction since I was RSO on that side and boomed out "YOUNG MAN! GET DOWN FROM THAT BERM!" !@#) It could be argued that I should have yelled CEASE FIRE instead, but those are the words that came to mind first (see my sig line). He wasn't in the line of fire, but certainly wasn't in a safe place. I was ready to yell CEASE FIRE next but the boy got down instantly. The whole episode happened in milliseconds. I'm relieved that there was no incident beyond this little mountaineer activity.
We wrapped up the event at about 4:00PM Sunday with a final Redcoat. I appreciate those that helped police up the range after since Joe, his son and I needed to get rolling home ASAP.
wcmartin1 and John K. were both very, very gracious hosts - THANK YOU! The Midland Shooters Association is blessed to have them. WCMartin's precious wife and daughters prepared sandwich fixins for the entire group of shooters both days (fixins were provided by the MSA). I arrived in Midland with my own lunch plan, but I gladly shelved them in order to partake in what was offered.
Part of the fun of the Appleseed experience is the Appleseed Trail itself. Before Joe and I arrived at Voortrekkers wonderful place Thursday night, Joe began to notice a growling sound coming from the front suspension of his front wheel drive mini-van. Joe and I chose to press on. We made it to Voor's OK and Voor is to be commended for coming out and meeting us on a rainy night. Friday after the MSA tour and meet/greet, we went back to the hotel. Joe removed the left front wheel and determined he had a front wheel bearing that was failing. Joe bought the replacement parts and a few tools Friday night so we could replace the bearing in the hotel parking lot Saturday as soon as the AS had ended.
Saturday after the AS Voortrekker went back to the hotel for some much deserved rest. I was getting ready to leave the range Saturday and assist Joe when shooter Smokey B. got wind of the van's mechanical situation. He loaned me his tool set after only having met me that AM. John K. then heard about the defective part and offered Joe and I a much better worksite than the hotel parking lot and more tools - a huge garage with a proper floor jack and stands. Joe, John and I got the bearing changed by 10:00 PM Saturday night, then John joined us at a local Sonic for food and conversation (John's still trying to convince me to be rid of my "commie rifles" and get a proper Garand). John and Smokey helped make the van's repairs go very smoothly. I had to be back at work on Monday and it was a 9-hour haul from Midland. I'm not sure Joe and I would have made it back to Houston safely and on time without their assistance. THANKS SO MUCH!
(I'll post some pics soon)
Saturday:
(http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6981/img5711f.jpg) (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img5711f.jpg)
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Listening to the Second Strike
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Sunday:
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