Bob 210

My father grew up in Europe from 1933-1956 and witnessed WWII first hand. He was also involved in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, being a Freedom Fighter in that conflict. Hearing the stories about the fighting and the firearms, how much Liberty and Freedom meant and the cost of both, I learned at an early age the importance of both Liberty and Freedom . I purchased some rifles and kept telling myself, 'One of these days I'm gonna have to learn me how to shoot one of them things'. Then I read something about this program in Shotgun News, but the events were so far away. But as I watched the program, the events got closer. Texas...... and then Worland, Wyoming Memorial Day of '06! That was close enough for me! So I called a buddy and told him about it and we made plans to attend the Memorial Day weekend shoot! I went and learned and soaked up the marksmanship. Then came the history. The story. The pride I felt f or my country awakened something in me I never knew was there. Deep inside me was....a Sleeping American! The value I saw that weekend made me realize that everyone I knew had to go to one of these events!"

Fred had told me in Worland that if I wanted an Appleseed closer to home, all I had to do was get them in contact with a range and RWVA would set it up and they would send Instructors. I went home and immediately contacted my local range in Saugas. Although it took a little bit of work, Riflewoman talked the range into hosting an event for Feb of '07. I wanted to attend more Appleseeds with the intention of becoming an Instructor at the Saugas event. When I showed up to the Boulder City, NV in '07, Fred recognized me and asked me if I had been to an Appleseed before. I told him I had attended in Worland. He told me to put my rifle back in the truck and immediately recruited me to Instruct in one of the three bays, as they had a big turn out and limited Instructor coverage. Although I was pretty apprehensive and nervous about doing a poor job, I stepped up to the challenge and so started my journey on the Appleseed trail. I was given my own bay with about 15 folks and later on in the day I actually got a little help from an Appleseeder by the name of Joe out of Iowa. The next Appleseed I went to was in Salt Lake City, UT and my father and brother attended with me. This is where I met Riflewoman and Believer.

February was coming fast and I couldn't wait to hold the Saugas event. Unfortunately, due to issues that won't be discussed here, the event was canceled and I was heart broken and became disenchanted with the program. I attended the Fallon, NV Appleseed in March of '07 with the intent of giving all the Appleseed materials back to Fred and parting ways. And then something happened that seems to happen at every Appleseed I have ever attended. After a weekend with all these great folks, you realize that you would much rather associate with them than the people you deal with in your everyday life. I didn't jump right back in with both feet, but I decided not to make a hasty departure. September of '07 saw me attending my first RBC as a shooter/instructor. This was where I met The Guy, Risky Business, Horn, and Colonial Shooter. At this RBC, I got the chance to shoot KD AQT's and really enjoyed it. I decided to get back into the program with both feet and concentrate on sharpening my Instructor skills. I really got to realize what drinking from the firehose was like from the Instructor viewpoint as I attended the next two Appleseeds, two weekends in a row with Fred. This was the Boulder City, NV and Phoenix, AZ Appleseeds of October of '07. Talk about a whirlwind tour! After teaching the next Boulder City, NV Appleseed in January of '08, we managed to finally get our own Appleseed in CA! With great thanks to Francis Marion for setting it all up, we had the Corona, CA Appleseed of March of '08 on the books. We were blessed by Junior Birdman and Dragonwood running the event and were joined by Kool aid and AZGromit from Arizona.

Well that event started what now has become an all out run to grow this program not only in CA, but all across the country. I have been blessed to become a Master Instructor and a member of the Steering Committee and hope to make a difference not only in the RWVA, but also in our great country. I guess my Appleseed story is one of adversity and triumph and not giving up, believing in the program and "....relying upon the goodness of the Cause and the aid of the Supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble actions." Do not give up on this program! It works and definitely makes a difference! I'll meet you at the Mississippi, Fred!

When I speak to people of Appleseed, I usually try to present to them something of value and want them to see as much value in this program as I see. I will usually wrap up my presentation by telling them......".....what I typically see in this program is a fellow that shows up at an Appleseed wanting to learn rifle marksmanship, and he gets some of the best marksmanship training there is, but he also gets something he wasn't expecting. The story. The retelling of our Heritage and the passing on of our Traditions. The Traditions of the greatest nation this world has ever known, coming from it's most humble beginnings, through tragedy, heartbreak, steadfastness, and resolution. The value he sees in this program after the story causes him to come again, only this time he bring his wife and his kids. Because he knows that they have to hear the story too! In fact, he realizes everyone he knows has to here the story. Everyone he knows must attend an Appleseed!" Sometimes I even tell them..... ".....I was just such a fellow.

We must reach out and awaken the sleeping American in each and every attendee at an Appleseed event and allow them all to realize that "....everyone they know must attend an Appleseed.....to hear the Story!"