Longmeadow, MA (11/19/2010)
- Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) hosted
126 disabled veterans and active duty military
personnel plus family members for the 3rd Annual
National Family Day. This was a massive shooting
event at the National Shooting Complex in San
Antonio, Texas, on November 13, 2010. In all,
over 225 great Americans participated in the
all day event.
Additionally, more than 100 volunteers came
to support the event from the outdoor industry,
VFW posts and surrounding active military units.
Other individuals who just wanted to help flew
from Seattle and Portland, Ore., and drove from
as far away as Tulsa, Okla., and Shreveport,
La. All assembled for one purpose -- to honor
these American Heroes who gave so much for our
country.
The event featured stages of fire for sporting
shotgun, rifles, pistols and cowboy action.
Smiles and good times abounded from the cowboy
stages to the rifles from multiple firearm companies
with top of the line optics and accessories
as they knocked down automatic resetting steel
at 100 yards. And there were great looks of
accomplishment as resetting steel groundhogs
dropped at 50 yards. There was even a tactical
shooting course for youngsters with air soft
guns.
"We continue to have an incredible sense
of pride to be involved in helping these great
American Heroes," said HAVA Chairman, Tom
Taylor. "As we see more and more Wounded
Warriors in the field and on the line and the
smiles it brings to their faces, it is worth
all the effort to host these events for HAVA
on behalf of the outdoor industry."
The participants were also treated to an amazing
display of shooting skill from Army Marksmanship
Unit members SGT Glenn Eller (2008 Olympic Gold
Medalist in Double Trap) and multi-national
and world champion SSG Josh Richmond. The Shotgun
exhibition was introduced by Multi Shotgun Champion
and NBC Olympic Shooting host Shari LeGate.
Competitive shooting champions Jerry Miculek
and Max Michel wowed the crowd with their competitive
and speed shooting skills. They also did a fun
competition with participants selected from
the attendees.
Hosting sponsors for HAVA and this event were
Smith & Wesson, Yamaha, Surefire, Hornady,
Mossberg, Leupold, Crimson Trace, FMG Publications
and NRA. Other major contributors involved with
this event were Corbon, Colt, XS Sights, Aimpoint,
Savage, Sig Sauer, LaRue Tactical, Remington
and Flip 'n Targets.
About Yamaha:
Yamaha ATVs and SxS vehicles are designed, engineered
and built tough! Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
headquarters are located in Cypress, California.
For more information on Yamaha, visit yamaha-motor.com.