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Tenth
Cavalry Open
 House
and Birthday Party 2004
July 31st was a very
special day for the Tenth Cavalry Gun Club. It represented the fifth
straight year of events the TCGC has hosted at the Cherry Ridge Range,
along with the ANJRPC. It was also the 10th anniversary of the club’s
existence. Happy Birthday 10th Cav!
After four years of
successful events, this year was unquestionably the best event to date.
After two consecutive years of rain, over 180 guests enjoyed a very
warm, humid day with only a brief shower during lunch.
Jerry Martin,
President of the Tenth Cavalry Gun Club, opened the proceedings by
welcoming our guests. He promised everyone a safe and fun filled day
while providing a brief history of the club, including the choice of its
names (Tenth Cavalry / Buffalo Soldiers). Too, he talked about the
club’s mission and goals. Jerry later took time to introduce some of
the club’s other officers and recognized several of those who
volunteered their time to help coordinate, instruct, and assist at the
event. He also promised the guests a couple of surprises.
After explaining the
logistics and agenda for the day, Jerry introduced and turned over the
proceedings to instructors Octavio (Cookie) Rankin, and Krey
Lorick, President, Tenth Cavalry Gun Club, New York. It was stressed
that of all the people they would meet that day, the most important were
undoubtedly, the range firearms instructors.
 After
a firearms safety and instructional briefing the crowd was divided into
three groups, and it was off to the range to practice what was just
learned. Each participant got to try their hand at rifle, pistol and
shotgun and all were genuinely enthusiastic about the chance to shoot.
Immediately after the
second range session was completed it was time to break for lunch. Once
everyone had been served and was seated, Jerry introduced an old,
familiar face to anyone who had attended an event in the past.
Percy Bennett is
an original founding member and the first President of the Tenth Cav.
For the last two and a half years he has been working for the NRA as
Marketing Manager of Clubs and Associations – Field Operations. He is
a lifetime 10th Cav member, advisor, and consultant and former Regional
VP of the ANJRPC. Percy talked of what it takes to make a club such as
the 10th Cav successful. He spoke of the need for others to step up,
become members, and to carry the real truth about the joy of
participating in the shooting sports.
After Percy’s brief
speech it was time for our featured speaker to address the crowd. In
years past, our event has been honored by such speakers as Percy
Bennett, Armstrong Williams, and representatives of C.O.R.E. – The
Congress of Racial Equality. C.O.R.E. has always sent Mr. Dakhar
Holmes to represent them and support our events. This year we were
honored to welcome the national spokesperson for C.O.R.E., Mr. Niger
Innis. Mr. Innis is truly a man of the people. This was exhibited
right away upon his arrival. He blended right in with the other guests
at the range, many who whom did not realize immediately who he was. How
appropriate it was for him to work with our founder, Percy Bennett, on
the pistol range.
During lunch, Niger
spoke of his travels around the world and how people from different
countries are envious of our way of life and our rights. CORE is an
advocate for 2nd Amendment rights. He spoke of the joy he felt in being
able to exercise those rights by participating and supporting our event.
In speaking about firearms ownership, he stressed that we should not
allow our government to ever take those rights away. These comments
reminded me of a statement he made at our New York City event, in April.
At that event, he said, “Gun ownership rights are civil rights.” In
fact, while having heard of us through Dakhar Holmes, it was at that
event that he was introduced to the 10th Cavalry Gun Club in person for
the first time. He pledged his support to our organization that day, and
promised to attend the July event. Obviously, he is a man of his word.
He promised that while this was the first 10th Cav event in NJ he had
attended, it would by no means be his last. The Tenth Cavalry Gun Club,
Inc. wishes to thank Niger Innis for supporting and participating in the
Tenth Cav’s 10th Anniversary / Open House.
After lunch it was back
to the range for the third and final session of shooting. Having enjoyed
an accident free, fun-filled, and safe event, the crowd came back to the
range house for birthday cake. The group was also treated to prizes,
based on a question and answer period revolving around that morning’s
gun safety and handling lessons.
 Jerry
took a moment to recognized The Newark Police Dept. Law Enforcement
Explorers for their participation in the National Law Enforcement
Explorer Championships in Atlanta, Ga. this July. The Newark Police
Dept. Law Enforcement Explorers are under the direction and tutelage of Detective
Leon Herbert, a 10th Cav member. They are young people from an “at
risk” background, whose life goals now include future careers in law
enforcement. This past week they were all given citations by the Newark
City Council for their achievements in that competition. During the last
two years the Tenth Cavalry Gun Club has been instrumental in training,
qualifying, and preparing these young people to participate in these
competitions. The 10th Cav has also worked with a similar group from the
United States Customs Dept, preparing them for the same competition.
All in all, it was as
promised, a safe, fun filled day, with plenty of surprises. The Tenth
Cavalry Gun Club has received several emails and phone calls from guests
who attended the event. The feedback has been all very positive.
The Tenth Cavalry Gun
Club, Inc. wishes to express it thanks to the many people and
supporters, without whose help, and support, this year’s open house
event would not have been as successful as it was. Thanks to the
ANJRPC for the use of their facility, Head Range Safety Officer, Jim
Bresett and his staff.
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Winchester Ammunition
Product Services
427 N. East Alton, IL 6202
www.winchester.com
Maryann Ventress, Event Mkt Admin.
Speedwell Targets –
Targets
136 Lincoln Boulevard
Middlesex, NJ
732-560-7171
Mike Panos – President
Ramsey Outdoor Store,
Inc
Ledgewood, NJ 07852
973-584-7799
Joe McConnell
www.ramseyoutdoor.com
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Kustom Kraft
Gunsmithing, Corp.
6 Walnut Valley Rd., Blairstown, NJ
Les Kraft – Gunsmith 908 362-5944
kustomkraft@nac.net
Glock Inc. USA
6000 Highlands Parkway
Smyrna, GA 30082 770-432-1202
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