SANGAMON COUNTY, IL: GSL grassroots meeting. Korean vet from Chosin Reservoir and WWII Vet from Bastogne featured speakers

How would you like to win a Kel-Tec PMR-30?

We’ll be giving one away at the Sangamon County Guns Save Life meeting, Monday, November 2nd.  There’s no cost to attend and it’s open to all!

Guns Save Life meetings are fun, upbeat events with exciting guest speakers, the latest news and information on gun rights at both the local, state and national level, tech time presentations (how can you have a gun rights meeting and not have guns?) and we give away a gun at each meeting.  In short it’s a great time and you’ll meet all sorts of great people.  History comes to life at our meetings in many cases thanks to some great guest speakers.

And, speaking of which, we have two outstanding gents this month.  Bring your significant other, kids and grandkids to hear history from men who were there.

Our guest speakers this month, in honor of Veteran’s Day.

Carl Greenwood:  Korean War veteran.  Mr. Greenwood was a young Marine at the First Marine Division Breakout at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950.  Wiki says of the Breakout:  Shortly after the People’s Republic of China entered the conflict, the People’s Volunteer Army 9th Army[a] infiltrated the northeastern part of North Korea and surprised the US X Corps commanded by Major General Edward Almond at the Chosin Reservoir area. A brutal 17 day battle in freezing weather soon followed. In the period between 27 November and 13 December 1950, 30,000[5] United Nations (UN) troops (nicknamed “The Chosin Few”) under the field command of Major General Oliver P. Smith were encircled by approximately 67,000[7] Chinese troops under the command of Song Shi-Lun. Although Chinese troops managed to surround and outnumber the UN forces, they were able to break out of the encirclement while inflicting crippling losses on the Chinese, allowing them to successfully withdraw in good order. The evacuation of the X Corps from the port of Hungnam marked the complete withdrawal of UN troops from North Korea.

History comes to life with his presentation.

Vince Speranza:  World War II veteran.  Mr. Speranza fought at the Battle of Bastogne, where, as Wiki tells it:  The American soldiers were outnumbered approximately 5-1 and were lacking in cold-weather gear, ammunition, food, medical supplies, and senior leadership (as many senior officers, including the 101st’s commander—Major General Maxwell Taylor—were elsewhere). Due to the worst winter weather in memory, the surrounded U.S. forces could not be resupplied by air nor was tactical air support available due to cloudy weather.

In short, it was a mess, but the Americans held the lines and were eventually relieved by none other than George Patton’s men.

Scheels Sporting Goods store is generously donating the normal $550 room rental fee as an in-kind donation to Guns Save Life.  Big thanks to Scheels.

Monday, November 2nd
Dinner and conversation: 5pm
Meeting business:  7pm
Scheels (2nd floor)
3801 South MacArthur Boulevard
Springfield, IL 62711

What’s even better news?

Bring your appetite – there’s food!  Dinner will be Pulled Pork sandwich, a side and drink for $6.99 at the Scheels cafeteria.  Folks can order off the menu if pulled pork isn’t your thing.  Oh yeah, and get there early – like an hour or more early – to check out the store.  It’s an outdoorsman’s paradise.  Or outdoorswoman.

You could win a hard-to-find Kel-Tec PMR-30! 

It’s our monthly drawing gun that someone will win at that meeting.

The interim Sangamon County Guns Save Life regional coordinator is Anthony Bellin.

Anthony Bellin, SCGSL Regional Coordinator
217 622-3579
adb3579@gmail.com

He’s asking folks to RSVP via text message or email if they are planning on eating for this first time at Scheels.