http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/07/ ... yards.html
So what is this project:
Information on the Appleseed Project!
What do we learn from it:We're About History, Heritage - and Tradition!
Welcome to one of the fastest-growing programs in the nation - Project Appleseed!
In a time when many people think this country is heading down the wrong road, the volunteers of the Revolutionary War Veterans Association are working to turn things around by educating Americans in the things they need to know to understand how this country got its start.
We're betting, once you know it, once you hear the Story of April 19th, 1775, the 'story you never heard in school', once you understand the sacrifices made that day by people much like us, you will not want to see those efforts go to naught.
It's the history of men and women who cared about their liberty - and cared about ours. Cared to the extent they were willing to face death, injury, impoverishment. Cared enough, many of them, to set ordinary concerns in their life aside for the eight long bloody years it took to convince the British we were serious about winning our freedom.
"Why 'Project Appleseed'?"
Glad you asked! We named our program after a man who traveled this country, planting apple seeds. Not so he could have apples, but so future generations of Americans could have apples.
We do the same, only it's the unique American heritage we plant - because we want to see it passed on for another generation.
History is the facts of April 19, 1775, some of which as you hear them will raise the hairs on the back on your neck; others will make your chest swell with pride, even two hundred-plus years later. Still others will sadden you - not only because of the price paid for liberty on that first day, but the shameful fact that most Americans have completely forgotten that price.
Heritage is what we make of those facts, and how we appreciate them. What kind of people were we, on April 19th, 1775? What kind of people are we, today? Do we still care about that first day? About what happened?
Most Americans don't, and that may be why this country, without its anchor to the founders, has lost its way, and is now adrift, in danger of grounding against the rocks. In danger of sinking.
And who's gonna stop the drift?
Are the people in Washington going to put us back on the right track? (Doubtful - they are the ones partly responsible for our ship of state being adrift...)
Is the media going to put us on the right track? (Doubtful - they are partly responsible for where we are...)
Is the educational system going to do it? (Very doubtful - they bear a lot of responsibility for failing to acquaint Americans with their history and heritage of April 19th, 1775.)
So, who's going to do it? If none of the traditional leaders of the country are going to?
How about, we do it? Us, the American people.
Why not? Who better to do it?
Wake the American people to their history and heritage, and enough of them will respond (we hope) and absorb what they learn - and will have a determination to make sure it doesn't die "on our watch".
Of course, there are no guarantees.
There were none that long-ago April morn, and there are none, today.
If Americans want to save their country; if they want to preserve, even strengthen, their liberty - they will do it.
If they don't, if no one really cares any more - they won't.
The jury is out. Just as it was, for 8 years of the Revolutionary War.
Yet, we did it once before. We can do it again. The example's been set.
Like them, we can only try. Try with all our might. With all our dedication. With all our effort.
Understanding, as you'll find out, the American Revolution was a revolution in hearts and minds, a change in the way of people thinking about things.
So, you don't like the way the country is heading? And you don't think you or anyone else can do anything about it?
We need to change that attitude, and that way of thinking. Because we can do it.
We can win the hearts and minds of our fellow Americans. By putting them in touch with their heritage.
You hear the Story of April 19th, 1775, and you may never be the same.
And you, and every American, needs to hear it.
Because "the Cause" - liberty, and the American tradition of the sovereignty of the citizen - are unique on this planet. Once it disappears from this country, the only place on earth with such a tradition, it likely disappears forever.
That would be a shame.
Arguably, a betrayal of the founders, and all they stood for. All they worked for...
So, explore our site. If you like what you see, come to an Appleseed. Hear the Story. Then, if you like, volunteer to help us.
We're expanding this program fantastically, every year. From little more than a dozen Appleseeds when we started, way back in 2006, we're doing thousands every year, nation-wide, coast-to-coast.
So, What is an Appleseed?
"Appleseeds" are weekend-long events held all over this nation which teach the American tradition of rifle marksmanship.
Effectiveness with firearms was much present along Battle Road on April 19th, 1775. So much so that each and every Appleseed T-shirt (free to all weekend "Appleseeders") says, right on the front:
"April 19th, 1775 - the Day Marksmanship met History - and the Tradition was Born..."
During the weekend, that tradition is placed within the context of the events of April 19th, 1775 as we tell the story of the people of that day, and what they did.
People from all walks of life and all ages show up with a .22 rimfire (and sometimes, a centerfire) to learn to shoot at 25 meters (82 feet).
Saturday is the day we want them to remember the various key tools of marksmanship - the Six Steps of Firing the Shot, the position Steady Hold Factors, NPOA, Talking Targets, IMC - everything you need to know, in order to shoot well with a rifle.
Sunday is the day to polish what you learned on Saturday. Our goal is to take the "100-yard shooters" of Saturday morning and turn them into "300-yard shooters" by Sunday afternoon. We can't do it with everyone - some take longer than others - but all will make it, if they go back home and persist in putting into practice what we teach them. And some will, by Sunday afternoon, be "400-yard shooters".
Sundays if the range facilities allow it, selected shooters will shoot at "actual distance" - whatever the range offers - out to 500 yards!
We do this so shooters can see for themselves that "what works at 25, works at 200 - or 300 - or 500 yards".
The program is open to all Americans of any stripe. Kids 20 and under shoot free, as do women, as do members of the US military - active, Guard, and Reserve. And we'll soon be announcing "Adaptive Appleseed" for those who are disabled or handicapped, including participants in the Wounded Warriors program.
For guys 21 and older who are non-military cost to attend both days is $80 ($70 if you pre-reg at EventBrite - you'll also find the schedule of events across the nation there).
The Revolutionary War Veterans Association (RWVA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization. There are no paid workers in our program. Every person - admin, instructor, everyone - is a 100% volunteer, because they believe in this program, and they want to get this country back on the right track.
The tradition of the American Rifleman is being able to hit any man-sized target within 500 yards. In theory, any rifleman can pick any rifle, fire one sighter shot, and then hit such a target out at 500 yards. Unbelievable, but true. Every instructor in this program can shoot 'expert' on the Army Qualification Test (AQT).
Every instructor in this program can do what he or she teaches.
Every instructor in this program has come up thru the ranks of Appleseed. Has come to an Appleseed, learned to shoot, heard and absorbed the history and heritage of April 19th, 1775, and signed on to help make this country a better place for our descendants (and ourselves!). Proving it works. Proving the Story has a powerful message for modern Americans. A message they need to hear. A message you need to hear.
We have a saying: "Learn today, Teach tomorrow".
And that's what our many hundred Instructors did, and are doing. Each of them ordinary Americans. Each of them engaged in an extraordinary task - saving a nation.
"How is Appleseed to save America?"
Glad you asked!
It's numbers-driven.
Get enough Americans believing in their history, appreciating their heritage, and maybe that heritage will continue for another generation or two.
Every generation has the obligation to pass on the tradition we've inherited as strong or stronger as when we received it from those who came before us. It's our duty, and our obligation - and part of the debt we owe them.
Clearly, in the last few generations, something has broken. The link has separated.
As clearly, something needs to be done, and fast. Complaining won't work, anymore.
So, Project Appleseed, with the mission of putting Americans back in touch with their heritage, began in 2006 with the ambitious goal of doubling every year.
The first year, 2006, the goal was a modest 1,000 participants. (We had to work twice as hard as we expected, hosting 17 or 18 Appleseeds instead of the planned 10-12 - but we made that first year's goal!)
The second year (2007) the goal doubled, to 2000. It took 47 or 48 Appleseeds, but we came very close to making that goal.
The third year (2008) we did 150+ Appleseeds - all across this nation - to come very close to making that year's goal of 4,000.
Last year (2009), we raised the goal from the scheduled "doubling" to 8,000 - we raised it to 10,000. And, putting on 450+ Appleseeds, we made that upward-revised goal.
This year, the goal is 20,000 - and more than 1000 Appleseeds!
This program now has a track record of showing it can be done - and we can do it!
As we continue to double, we'll see the increasing impact any 'doubling every year' program will have: 40,000 in 2011; 80,000 in 2012 (when the 100,000th Appleseeder will pass thru the ranks); 160,000 in 2013; 320,000 in 2014; 640,000 in 2015; and 1,280,000 in 2016...
Will it be easy? No.
It hasn't been easy, from the first year, until now.
Will we do it? Yes, if we want to save this country. To return it to what it is supposed to be about, to restore the history and heritage into the hearts and minds of as many Americans as we can.
And here's where you come it.
Attend an Appleseed, where you'll not only learn marksmanship, and hear the Story, but find people there you didn't know existed any more in this country. People who, like you, care about the future of our country, and are concerned about that future, and want to make sure the ship of state stays afloat.
If you decide to come to an Appleseed, please try to bring at least (at least!) one other person with you. It won't be easy - too big a TV screen, too soft a couch, too much to do - as you'll quickly find out as you help us out in what we call "the Low-tech way", which is to make a list of all your friends, relatives, family, neighbors, co-workers - everyone you know - and gently invite, urge, persuade them to come with you to the Appleseed.
Don't get discouraged. Remember, all you need is one. To get the ball rolling. And so you will be able to share your experience not only at the Appleseed and replay it on the ride home, but so you won't be the only Appleseeder on your block.
This program grows so fast because 1) there's an understanding that the ship may be sinking, and a certainty that time is not on our side, 2) a realization that if we don't get off the couch and fix the ship, it will sink, and 3) we'll need every helping hand bailing as hard as we can, to make it happen - to save the ship.
What you'll find an Appleseed is:
*A gathering of your fellow Americans interested in learning how to shoot a rifle. Most will show up with that, and only that, on their minds. Before the Appleseed is over, they will, most of them, discover to their suprise that Appleseed is about far more than that. And many, maybe most, will go home shaken up a bit, inspired even, to learn the shinning facts surrounding the first day of their country's drive toward liberty.
*The first step of a journey toward not only becoming a rifleman, but an awakening to your history and heritage and the slow understanding that Appleseed is about far more than marksmanship.
*Finding out, to your surprise, that there are a lot of fellow Americans just like you. Uncertain about the future, slightly depressed in believing there's not much they can do about it, and feeling pretty lonely and helpless. And, suddenly, you don't feel so lonely any more. Nor quite so powerless to deal with the future. In fact, you'll find HOPE.
What Appleseed isn't:
A competition with anyone but yourself. Your skills are what is important, so the only person you are competing with is yourself. Can you shoot a better score than the last?
"Barking instructors" - stated as an expectation by an Appleseeder when asked "what did you expect, before you came to this Appleseed?" - only to discover polite, well-meaning instructors who - to his shock - cared about how fast and well he was learning to shoot a rifle accurately.
Militia training - we used to get this a lot when we were starting out, but not so much now that Appleseed is so visible across the country, and we've done thousands of 'em. We are what you see, and what we say: a superb rifle marksmanship teaching program melded in with a strong dose of our country's history and heritage. Nothing more, nothing less...
Equipment race - by starting with the notion of "bring what you have" and emphasizing rack-grade rifle and standard ammo, we try to take out the typical American's inclination to "buy" his way into shooting good by buying every gadget which promises to help him shoot better. A sling, good sights, a reliable and safe rifle, a piece of carpet to lay on, a cheap cloth shooting jacket (if at all), and that's about it. About all it takes - to make an expert rifleman.
Apart form all the good work we are doing in educating the citizenry of India we should also provide opportunities for the common citizens to get one on one experience with the firearms and their charm. This can be done by organizing camps, seminars and workshops. I am confident that by these we will be able to generate a bigger debate and also give a platform to experts to speak on the subject. Such events can be organized in collaboration with NRAI.
