St. Augustine, FL March 10-11, 2012

[9mm4545]

Another great weekend Appleseed was held in St. Augustine under cloudy skies and cool temperatures. The threat of rain was only a threat as we never felt a drop. Now on Saturday we did have the wind machine trying to cause anything not nailed down to fly into orbit but that just added a challenge to help us develop character. Twenty-five patriots came out to learn and learn they did, starting with the purpose of Appleseed, our safety rules, and the line commands. "Rifles to the line!" After the initial Redcoat target--and the results it revealed--we knew that we could make our shooters better. Starting with using the sling and developing a solid position we embarked on the making of marksmen. The Six Steps and Natural Point of Aim came next and the groups began to shrink. A few rifle issues were sorted out and our shooters learned about inches-minutes-and clicks. Sighting in a rifle will not take a case of ammo for these students! The pace picked up with Rifleman's Cadence drills and in no time it was time for the course of fire known as "lunch". FLawyer told of a story that began 237 years ago, a story that is part of our common heritage and that it totally relevant today. That story began in Boston and ended up changing the world. Men like Paul Revere, Sam Adams, and John Hancock came to life as the First Strike of the Match was struck. During the afternoon we moved into standing positions, sitting and kneeling positions, transitions, magazine changes and preparation for the Big Test: the AQT. A mid-afternoon break gave us a chance to catch our breath and for Theri to take us from Lexington to Concord as the Second Strike was told. "Take good care of the children" takes on a deeper meaning when we hear Isaac Davis say it through the voice of Mr. T. Finally, the final exam! Our instruction (and many hours of hard work on the part of the students at home) paid off as Chris and Teresa joined the ranks of those who can call themselves "Rifleman". Both of these fine folks knew well the meaning of persistence, of sticking with it and not giving up. Congratulations to both of you! I see more Orange Hats coming to Florida. Our two Riflemen on Saturday were closely followed by several who were "knocking on the door" and who just need to put all their excellent shooting together on the same target on the same day. Dry fire at home and practice your transitions and the Patch is a certainty. Our final Redcoat target showed a quadrupling of 400 yard qualified shooters and, while we none who cleared the target in the morning, by the end of the day we had two! Huzzah!! We ended the day by telling how a bunch of farmers and shopkeepers took on a professional army--and sent them packing. Marksmanship met history on April the 19th, 1775, and it has been our heritage ever since.

Sunday started again overcast and looking like rain. The wind was less though and it looked like a good day for American Marksmanship as 19 shooters took their places on the line. A brief review and we commenced to making smoke, noise--and hits! Besides marksmanship instruction, our students learned about the second battle of Lexington and Concord--the battle for hearts and minds both in the Colonies and in England. We learned of remarkable individuals such as Samuel Whittimore, Hezikiah Wyman, and David Lamson and the efforts they contributed that cause us to talk about them two centuries later. And who can forget Prudence Cummings Wright after Rambo Granny took on her persona at lunchtime? During the afternoon we forged two more Riflemen on the anvil of the AQT. Congratulations to Jake and Luke for hanging in there and showing us some fine shooting indeed. And to everyone who came out and spent their time with us--well, you are our kind of people. I do hope to see all of you again.

I did take some photos and I am sure that others did so as well. Those will be forthcoming soon.

[9mm4545]

Photos!

[pikid89]

Dang, sounds like I missed out on a good time

Congratulations to the new Riflemen!

[TomM1Thumb]

Congratulations to All four of Our New Riflemen!

Nine Women shooters at this Event, One Woman Instructor, for a Grand total of Ten, It would have made the great makings of a Ladyseed!

Here are a few too many Pictures, From Saturday.

[Johnnyappleseed]

4 new Rifleman 
Nice job Florida !
Is the Madame Yotnottin purple patch available in Florida ?

[TomM1Thumb]

Here are some Photo's from Sunday,

[TomM1Thumb]

Is the Madame Yotnottin purple patch available in Florida ?

From what I was told, That may have been the last one! But then again, Never say Never, LOL!

[Sly223]

They are going to make more!