Project Appleseed

This is simply a placeholder until the full AAR is posted. Please post your comments and pictures for the weekend here.

RnR

Beginning of the Patriots Day Volley at 3PM at Sparta, IL @ the 100 yard line on April 19, 2014. 20+ Shooters on the line letting freedom ring and honoring the sacrifice of those who died on April 19, 1775.

Thank you everyone who attended this Friday and Saturday Event. It was touching to see Families, Multi-Generations, and Americans participate on this very special Weekend.

Our Posterity was well represented and our Future looks to be in good hands with the young Folks.

Thank you.




















































more photos

This was my first ever Patriots Day shoot. I would like to say that this was the most fun I had in ages. I would like to present you attendees with a statement. This shoot was a powerful reminder for me. Sparta has always been my "Home Range".

To get the idea we have to go waaay back to August of 2010. My first shoot ever was a new and eye opening experience. SO many things at once, people I had never heard of, places I had never seen, and most of all working with a piece of equipment I was unfamiliar with. Ask some of the Instructors I was there with. With so much stuff going on I was grumpy and probably at least a little whiny. It also took some time for Dad and Mom to convince me to continue trying. We all start there. We are all beginners at least once.

Here I am 4 years later. As a Instructor I looked upon you attendees and it took me back to when I was in your shoes. You are the best. Honestly, not a complaint uttered and none of you gave up. 

Logan: You are sitting there minding your own business, getting on your sling and what happened? Your rifle bolt got your thumb! I bet that hurt a lot, but you kept your cool. It did not stop you from resting up to shoot on Saturday. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

Mr. Joshua: You had some pretty uncomfortable back pain. It hindered you ability to transition. So did you just get up and leave? Nope! You just kept in the seated position and kept shooting. That's persistence right there! Plus you came back on Saturday.

Grace: Your groups started out loose, however once you grasped how to properly use the sling they tightened up real quick. Great job absorbing all of the instruction and putting it to good use.

The King family: Third time is the charm! You guys finally made it to an Appleseed. I hope it was worth is for you. There is nothing like seeing some well spent family time and how can you spend it better than at the Range. Thanks for persisting and coming out to spend this weekend with us.

Cody: Well it may have taken some time and sunburns, however you made it. Always with a funny smile on your face, taking instruction without complaint, breaking through and making Rifleman. I can be proud to say that I have seen three of your family make rifleman and each time I have been impressed by your determination.

I greatly enjoyed the Patriot's Volley. That first volley had an eerie sort of echo that is unforgettable. Plus I was lucky where I picked my spot. Between Goosegun and 308Guy was probably the best place on the line. My favorite part of the weekend had to be listening to Taps. I would like to give the biggest Thanks possible to Mr. Bill Hershey for coming all the way out from St. Loius to play Taps for us. That had to be the most moving and heartfelt Taps I have ever heard.

Before ending this I would like to give a special thanks to each Instructor who made some difference  for me this weekend.   

Unka IMA also called Imadentist: I would like to congratulate you on your performance for the Patriot's Day Volley as Line Boss. You delivered the right amount of seriousness and respect towards our Forefathers.

Polar Bear: Thank you for sharing your Redcoat Steel with us. That first volley round was epic.

Duckcreek51: You always bring a sort of cheerfulness to the line. I enjoyed meeting your family and having them spend Saturday on the line with us.

Uncle Larry D: You have an extraordinary way of dealing with us young folks. Your patience and support is admirable.

Mrs. Duckcreek: Welcome to the Applseed Instructor Corp, we are glad to have you. Thank you for stepping up and taking the Blue Hat.

Hello Kitty: I think it is safe to say that you did an excellent job 7th stepping. Thank you for coming along to help and visit on Saturday.

308Guy: I can see you have a natural teaching ability. I appreciate your patience and humor this weekend. I also believe you have branded me with a new nickname that will not be forgotten any time soon.

Mutti: Thank you for being such a good Shoot Boss. You are creative and patient with all of us still learning.

GooseGun and NavNuke: To put it simply the weekend would not run nearly as smooth without you. Running down to fix the targets, signing people in, and making sure everything was organized. I am not sure how we could cope without you.

KD Cat: You are always so charming and sweet with people. Also you run a safe and well paced line.

Bbagg: Thank you for coming out to be with us. I am positive that having you around is like having your own personal Gunsmith. You can fix anything!

Cody (still working out a throughly cool forum name): Welcome to the big Appleseed family. We may all seem crazy at first but trust me, you will understand with time.

RedFox24: Thank you for coming out during the busy part of your year. We always enjoy your company.


Thank you everyone for the successful, safe and enjoyable shoot. I am looking forward to working with each and every one of you again. For those of you who were soooo close: I know that the temps and fatigue wore you down. I also know that learning all of this at once is tough. However I know you guys have it. I hope that one day, you too may look back on your first Appleseed and smile.

Until next time dry practice, dry practice, dry practice,

RnR

PS: For those of you who have not yet checked out Mutti's pictures, do so! She has some pretty awesome ones in there. Who knows you may recognize someone!
Also do not forget if you had fun, tell your friends and family about it!

We still have plenty of room at Marion this weekend: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/marion-il-appleseed-april-26-27-2014-tickets-9399876283

Also I hope to see some of you guys at Sparta in June: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/sparta-il-appleseed-june-28-29-2014-tickets-9660588079
I have hopes that this will be a big event. We are actually being sponsored by Cabela's! With your help we can fill all 40 spots and make this the biggest and most awesome shoot this year!




 

This was a great shoot!  So many people taking time out of their daily grind to begin the journey to help save our country.  It was great to see dad's and grandpa's with their children/grandchildren.  The weather was beautiful on 4/18 and 4/19 and it was very special to get to celebrate the most important day in America's history the day before the most important day in the history of the world.  That will probably not happen again any time soon (some of you smart folks may be able to figure out the next time) I do not  count myself among you so I will leave it to you.  Mutti arranged for 'LIVE" taps to be played and it was beautiful, mournful, and totally appropriate...one of the most moving experiences of my life (thank God for dark sunglasses).  I am so blessed to have such a fine Appleseed family and I thank God for bringing all these wonderful people into my life...like all his other blessings I do not deserve it but I am thankful for it!

I can't wait till next years 4/19 shoot!  We will make it even better!  In the meantime pray for our nation, AS is a great program but it is no substitute for prayer...take your cue from George Washington...there was good reason this country was founded on God...without him we can do nothing.

Russ/Ima

A day late and dollar short, but I showed up the second day and I am glad I did!  It was a great day with several shooters.  This made for a very loud Patriot Shoot Volley.  I have never been around that many large caliber rifles being fired at once.  A special thanks to Mutti for scheduling the gentleman to play Taps at the end of the tribute.  I think it choked a bunch of us up. 

It is always great to see my AS family and meet new people.  I was happy to see Mrs. Duckcreek take her blue hat.  I am still hopeful that she might take her orange hat someday.  My son is hooked on AS and this was his third shoot.  We have started to slowly introduce our daughter (7) into the program and she got to shoot a little.   

Mutti did an outstanding job on the KD segment.  It was one of the easiest to understand so that my 7-year-old daughter was able to follow along and answering questions (until it came to multiplication).  Again - Great Job!!