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Best NRA Annual Meetings Memories

Share your best NRA Annual Meetings memory and it just might get published.

December 20, 2010

12/20/2010

As we look forward to the 140th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits to be held April 29-May 1, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pa., we’d like you to share your favorite memories from previous Meetings. Whether you attended your first NRA Annual Meetings last year in Charlotte, or your family attends every year, we’d like to hear from you. Please share your favorite memory below and we might publish it in the Official Journal sections of the March 2011 issues of American Rifleman, American Hunter and America's 1st Freedom. Be sure to include your name, city and state, and please post your message no later than January 9, 2011, to have your entry considered for publication.

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10 Responses to Best NRA Annual Meetings Memories

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David Adams wrote:
February 24, 2011

I have a lot of great memories from the annual meetings I have attended since 2000 (having only missed 2006 and 2007), but the highlight has to be the 2005 Annual Meeting in Houston when my youngest daugther, Reagan, was recognized as the Youngest Life Member in attendance. She was 10 days shy of 4 months old. Her big sister, Abby (who was 4 at the time and also a Life Member) was also there for all the fun.

John M. Young wrote:
January 08, 2011

My first Annual Meet was in 1998 in Philadelphia.After the meeting,I had the great pleasure to meet Charlton Heston,a boyhood idol.I did meet him again at later meets, but his gratiousness the first time will never be forgotten.

Glenn Stewart wrote:
January 07, 2011

When the 1982 convention was held in Phoenix, our family still lived in CA. We made a vacation of the trip, passing through Las Vegas and taking our children to the Grand Canyon. I was hopeful of seeing one of my heroes, the late Bill Jordan, so I brought along my well-worn copy of his book, "No Second Place Winner", so I could get him to autograph it. When I located him in the exhibit hall, I approached him, introduced myself, and asked him to sign my book. With typical Jordan humor, he looked at the worn pages and said, "You're going to have to tell your friends to buy their OWN copies." Then he autographed it for me. Since we now live in Phoenix, I've met a number of folks I'd like to have known better, Jeff Cooper (twice), Neal Knox and R. Lee Ermey, during the several Phoenix conventions I've attended, as well as non-celebrity friends I had not seen in several years. If you can attend, don't pass it up.

Ken Flanagan wrote:
January 06, 2011

I have had the opportunity to attend the last three National Meetings and this year it is almost in my back yard. I got to meet my hero, Jerry Miculek at the S&W booth in Charlotte. I am 59 years old, but when I saw him I turned into a blubbering little kid. I told him what an honor it was to meet him and told him "he is right up there with the Lone Ranger in my book". He laughed and signed my poster with a special note. My wife and buddy were laughing at me because I was shaking like a leaf when I was trying to roll the poster up and protect it in my carry bag. I have met many personalities at the shows, but Jerry was one class act and remains special.

Michael Novak wrote:
January 06, 2011

So far the Louisville Convention was the best,I got to meet all my shooting "Stars". Tom Knap,R. Lee Ermey and Jim Scoutten, and was excited to receive the 15 years of the TV shows challenge coin, SWEET!

Mike Haywood wrote:
January 06, 2011

I was a volunteer at the Phoenix convention, working at the admission tables. Living in Prescott and having worked at the Gunsite facility, I became interested when a charming woman handed me a member card with the name "Cooper", and asked if she was related to "The Colonel". Imagine my surprise when she responded, "Why yes, Jeff was my husband". I was awe struck and felt like a kid meeting the queen. Heck, I have a photo of the late Col. Jeff Cooper hanging in my home! To meet the wife of a man I have followed through his writings and respected for years was indeed an honor. What really impressed my about the whole convention was the overwhelming sense of patriotism, the sense of real Americans gathering to support the traditions that truly made this the greatest nation the world has known. I was exceptionally proud just to be a part of it all.

Suzie Roulette wrote:
December 26, 2010

I became engaged at the 2001 Kansas City, MO, Annual Meetings! My now husband, Anthony, and I both worked at NRA-ILA at the time and he popped the question one evening after working the NRA-ILA booth in the convention hall. So, naturally, this is my best memory! We were married on January 5, 2002, and now have two beautiful red-headed girls - Anna (5), and Grace (3 months)and a marriage nearly 9 years strong thus far! He is still with NRA-ILA and I am a stay at home mom after working at NRA for over 7 years. We have many wonderful "NRA memories", but this one tops the list!

Tim Case wrote:
December 23, 2010

I've been to 4 annual meetings and my fondest memory is the friends I have made. Whether it has been at a banquet, book signing, Vendor booth, or just milling around the show floor I have never met a greater group of people than the members of the NRA. Friendly, courteous, and dedicated only begins to describe this group and I draw inspiration and am constantly reinvigorated when I attend an annual meeting.

mark hoidas wrote:
December 22, 2010

i was so honored to be in the presence of so many american veterans who i will call heroes. My 13 year old son was with us and listened to all of the woderful speakers. We need to get our youth involved and teach them why this country is great. they are our future.

Linda Walker wrote:
December 21, 2010

My best memories of the NRA annual meetings I've attended are just how kind and considerate the gun crowd is. You never see someone get angry because they were bumped in to or stepped in front of. You hear a lot of "excuse me" or "pardon me please", but never an angry word. It truly does prove, "the armed society is a kind society." And of course, the ultimate highlight is ALWAYS Ted Nugent's Sunday afternoon seminar. Ted rocks the crowd not only with his music, but also with his "pull no punches" way of getting the message out! Linda Walker NRA's 2009 "Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award" recipient