Small Town News

Project Appleseed teaches marksmanship, Revolutionary War history

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First 'Appleseed shoot' held in Medical Lake draws families intent on learning from U.S. forefathers

For the typical American, being able to accurately shoot a rifle probably ranks low on a list of essential skills these days, as does having a working knowledge of the Revolutionary War.

But for the thousands of people across the country who take part in Project Appleseed each year, learning these things is a way to preserve a critical piece of our nation's past while imparting a stronger sense of citizenship to younger generations.

That's why Cheney residents Heather and Scott Woller

brought 8-year-old Lauren to an "Appleseed shoot" that took place last Saturday and Sunday at a private shooting range north of Medical Lake. Heather watched her daughter learn how to handle a hot pink .22 caliber rifle while her husband, an active duty master sergeant in the Air Force, helped two kids on the other end of the firing line.

"We've been involved in Appleseed for years and we wanted to give (Lauren) the chance to learn this too," Heather said.

The two day Appleseed events mix traditional marksmanship training with a detailed

oral account of the first day or the American Revolution, April 19, 1775. Last Saturday afternoon, between bouts of firing practice, about a dozen attendees of all ages sat in a semi circle at the Lone Pine Range, eating lunch and listening to volunteer instructors vividly tell the stories behind the "shot heard 'round the world" that touched off the battles at Lexington and Concord.

Larry Cernik, the Idaho State Coordinator for Appleseed and the director of last weekend's event, said the program doesn't attempt to run through the entire eight year history of the war for American independence, but to portray the sacrifice and courage of "average people, just like you and me" who earned the freedoms enjoyed in this country today.

"Our intent is to whet appetites on the history and what it bequeathed to us," he said.

Each day's lesson is sandwiched by marksmanship clinics, where participants of all ages and abilities are shown how to shoot from a standing, sitting and horizontal position. Over the course of the weekend Cernik said each person goes through nearly 600. 22 caliber rounds on their way toward the goal of shooting a 20 inch target out to 500 yards without a scope or supports.

"This is what your forefathers were capable of," the Appleseed program information says. "These skills transfer to any kind of shooting and while they should be considered 'basic' to most Americans, they are more often seen as 'advanced' by today's shooters....This is what Appleseed is trying to change."

Cernik said marksmanship is taught because good shooting requires learning things like patience, determination and persistence skills also essential to civic participation.

"If you ask 10 people why they're motivated to learn marksmanship skills, you'll get as many answers," he said. "Some like to learn it like learning mechanics, some hunt or have firearms for self-defense. It varies, but it's part and parcel of what makes us Americans."

There are more than 100 Appleseed events each month, from North Carolina to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. All are overseen by the non-profit Revolutionary War Veterans Association, which some have accused of being a quasi-militia. A 2010 New York Times Magazine feature story blasted the Appleseed shoots as spreading a new brand of secessionism, but Cernik and others say the events serve as non-political exercises focused on teaching history and basic rifle skills.

The group's website repeatedly states a "zero tolerance" for anti-government, anti-military, or anti-law enforcement attitudes, and lists its primary goal as getting people off the couch and involved in the "soft war," their term for active civic involvement.

"Talk to family, talk to friends, interact with neighbors, take part in local community decisions and become active in whatever political party best fits your idea of how America should be governed," the website suggests. "Write to your elected representative, attend town halls, correspond with newspaper editors and wholeheartedly enter the discussion in both online and traditional forums."

Even in an era where most kids would rather sit around playing shoot-em-up video games then learn how to actually shoot a gun, the program seems to be catching on. Appleseed has taught more

than 25,000 people to shoot in the past five years and Cernik said Coeur d'Alene events regularly attract about 60 people. While last weekend was the first time the event took place in Medical Lake, Cernik plans to hold more there in the future.

Cernik said Appleseed will continue to be a big draw for people interested in learning how everyday colonists handled themselves on that day 236 years ago, as well as those dedicated to working on a skill once held as a vital part of living in America.

"It offers an opportunity to engage in a self-assessment of your own character," he said. "You realize that you're responsible to your family, your neighborhood and your community."



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© 2011 Cheney Free Press Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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