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V.G.C.A NEWS APRIL '99
Monthly Meeting
Don't miss this one. There is a TIME CHANGE THIS MONTH.
Doug Wicklund, curator of the NRA National Firearms Museum, will be
presenting this month. The subject is the Civil War Sniper. The
meeting will be April 22 (4th Thurs) and will start at 7 PM
rather than the normal 8PM. So come early and have a light dinner. The
location is the auditorium at NRA as usual. There may well be a
Whitworth sniper rifle at the meeting. Please read the article in the
American Rifleman April 99. On page 42 and 43, two of Doug's sniper
rifles are pictured. Should be an interesting program. Both the museum
and the NRA store will be open that evening. So come early and enjoy.
Future programs include: May 27- Al Edge will present the making of
high grade Hawken style Rifles; June 19 is the pig roast at NORVA;
July 22 is open for now; August 26 will be Harry Hunter, the curator
of the Smithsonian's Museum of American History; Sept 23 and Oct 28
are open; Nov-Dec will be on Dec 2 when Phil Schreier will be
presenting "Capt. Sam Walker's Colts". Descendents of Capt.
Sam Walker will be in attendance as well!! So there are some good ones
coming up!! The programs seen to be getting better and better and
cover many different aspects of gun collecting. If you would like to
present on any of the remaining open days, call Elmo Phillips or me.
Numbers are listed above.
The Last Show
It was a good show. Ed Costello will have the figures at the
meeting. We need to change some things insofar as advertising goes. We
spent quite a bit of money on this. We do need some help. If you are
willing to help Ed Costello and me on this aspect, we would love to
hear from you. We need people who will work and not just talk about
it. Please let me know if you will help. The displays were great this
time. Vince Rausch won with his display entitled "Gun
Collecting". Pete Roberts came in second with his really fine
display of "Smith and Wesson Model 1917 Revolvers". Bill
Thacker's outstanding display of US Military Handguns 1900-1945 was
third. Jim Lander's comprehensive collection of early powder flasks
won the 1st Judges Choice Award. Phil Orem's extremely
interesting display of "Black Powder Pistols" won the 2nd
Judges Choice Award. All the displays were simply outstanding and
represented a lot of work. We thank you for the effort.
Finally, a word of thanks to those who helped in the set up and
take down of the show: Rick Jones, Thomas McMichael, Fred Fees Jr.,
John Bird, Gary Holderman, Ben Sims, Addison Wright, Bill Egan, Larry
Hare, Vic Krebs, Jim Burgess, Jack Bokinsky, and Dobie Nicklas, Lee
Turner, Del Whitacre, Tim Henderson and Art Shingler. Sorry if I
missed anyone.
Mark Your Calendars - Sat., May
8
Alan Cors has invited VGCA and NORVA to the May 8 Open House at the
Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles. Alan and the group have well
over a hundred tanks and armored vehicles in working condition. There
will be lots of them on display and will be demonstrated. If you have
never seen this, don't miss it!!! See the attached flyer and map.
Please call Alan at the number provided to let him know you can attend
and how many will be in your party. These open houses are not open to
the public. This collection is perhaps the best private collection of
these vehicles in the world. And for them to have been restored and
running is unbelievable. Dress for the weather, bring your family and
a camera. The speakers for the event are listed on the flyer. They
will have some interesting things to say!!! Food and sodas will be
available on site.
The Passing of Tim Gray
Lee Turner reports that Tim was found dead at home. I have no
details on the funeral plans. We will send flowers when we find out
the details. For those who might not know who Tim was, he was the
gentleman who always had the tables to the left of the main door at
Hugo's who had the hand tooled leather holsters and gun belts. Tim was
a true artist in leather work. Tim also collected engraved Colts that
were often displayed in his fine custom holsters. Tim had been quite
ill for several years. He will be missed.
See you at 6 PM for dinner on the 22nd. The program
starts at 7 pm!!!!
D-Day: The Landings in Normandy
- June 6, 1944
The VMMV invites you, your friends and family to join us in our
continued effort to share our artifacts of military history. They will
serve as backdrop for the words of two men who were there -- as we
honor the 55th anniversary of this extraordinary event.
* FROM THE AIR: Sam M. Gibbons entered the U.S. Army in
1941. At 1:00 a.m. on June 6, 1944, Capt. Gibbons, 501st
Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, arrived by
parachute near Carentan on the Cotentin Peninsula. In the European
campaign to the end of the war, he returned to his home in Florida
where he served in the state legislature (1953-1962). Congressman
Gibbons then began his very distinguished career in the U.S. House
of Representatives (1963-1989).
* FROM THE SEA: Alvin D. Ungerleider was drafted in Nov.,
1942. 2nd Lieutenant Ungerleider, L Co., 115th
Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, landed in the first wave
to hit the Easy Green sector of Omaha Beach. Fighting through to the
Elbe River, his company liberated a slave labor camp in Nordhausen.
With a distinguished career in the Army, Brigadier General
Ungerleider retired from active duty in 1978.
We will have more than 50 vehicles in an outdoor display, many of
which will be demonstrated during the program. The vehicle
presentations will be enhanced by the presence of some outstanding
living history units in authentic uniforms and equipment. These
individuals and members of the Washington Armor Club will be available
during the static display periods to explain the history and use of
the equipment.
When: Saturday, May 8, 1999, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. At
1:00 p.m., we'll start the engines and introduce our speakers.
Where: Aden Field. 13906 Aden Road, Route 646 (5 miles east
of Nokesville, VA) See directions on reverse side. Phone at Aden
Field: (703) 594-3030
RSVP: By Wednesday, May 5. Leave ACCEPTANCES ONLY on the
voice mail at (703) 827-0736 to let us know the number of people
in your party. If you have any questions, please call Allan Cors
at the same number.
Due to space limitations, this invitation is NOT to the general
public, and may not be reprinted or reported in any publication
without prior approval.
DIRECTIONS TO THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF MILITARY VEHICLES
From Interstate 95
From I-95 take exit 152 (old exit 51). Take Route 234 North
towards Manassas. Go approximately 7.8 miles and turn left onto
Route 646 Aden Road. Drive approximately 6.0 miles to the entrance
on the left 13906 Aden Road. Red brick walls at
entrance. Proceed to marked parking area.
From Interstate 66
From I-66 West, take Exit 44 (Manassas/Regional Airport) on to
Route 234 South. Go 5.5 miles to Route 28 South and drive
approximately 4.5 miles to Nokesville --Just a traffic light and
small shopping area. At the light, turn onto Route 652, Fitzwater
Drive. Go 1 mile to stop sign. Turn right onto Route 646, Aden
Road. Drive 4.2 miles to entrance on the right -- 13906 Aden Road.
Red brick walls at entrance. Proceed to marked parking area.
PHONE AT THE MUSEUM RESTORATION FACILITY: (703) 594-3030
See you at the meeting! Don't forget your show and tell items
and your guests.
Addison Hurst,
Secy.
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