Project Appleseed puts marksmanship abilities on display

This weekend at the Lone Pine Range just west of Medical Lake, members of Project Appleseed will put their marksmanship skills to the test.

The event, which takes place on a monthly basis three other times this summer, is a two-day rifle clinic where participants learn the foundational skills of being a rifleman. Project Appleseed is an event belonging to the Revolutionary War Veterans Association, which is dedicated to teaching every American our shared heritage and history as well as traditional rifle marksmanship skills.

This weekend’s event is May 4-5. Future competitions take place June 8-9, July 20–21 and Aug. 24–25.

“Our volunteer instructors travel across the country teaching those who attend about the difficult choices, the heroic actions, and the sacrifices that the Founders made on behalf of modern Americans, all of whom are their posterity,” reads the Project Appleseed website.

There are a number of skills involved in the marksmanship competition, and the organization promotes those throughout the event.

“Since these skills are likewise key elements of mature participation in civic activities, we urge our students to take what they have learned about themselves as marksmen and apply it to their participation in their communities and in the wider American society in accordance with their own choices about how Americans should govern themselves,” the Project Appleseed website reads.

During the first day of the event, Project Appleseed provides lessons regarding safety, sling use and the six steps involved in firing the rifle among other lessons. The next day includes a review of Saturday’s foundational teaching and includes some finer points of instruction.

“We seek to do three things: teach marksmanship and respect for the tradition of such, and to preserve the knowledge of our Revolutionary War history,” the organization’s website reads.

The second day of the event also includes greater discussions on the American heritage where lessons taught throughout the weekend come together at the end of the day. According to the Northwest Region Project Appleseed Facebook page, there is also an opportunity to take the Army Qualification Test and other chances to earn a Rifleman qualification.

While the focus of the weekend includes rifle technique and safety, the Revolutionary War Veterans Association also places a heavy importance on civic involvement. The group encourages event participants to take part in community decisions and become active in a political party that fits each person’s ideals.

“Write to your elected representative, attend town halls, correspond with newspaper editors, and wholeheartedly enter the discussion in both online and traditional forums,” are among the suggestions listed on Project Appleseed’s website.

For more information on Project Appleseed, visit http://www.appleseedinfo.org. To find additional information on the northwest region, visit http://www.facebook.com/NorthwestRegionProjectAppleseed.

James Eik can be reached at james@cheneyfreepress.com.