A group of around 20 combat wounded veterans from Project Enduring Pride visited NRA Headquarters and, along with friends and family, were treated to a tour of the National Firearms Museum as well as a chance to get some target practice in at the NRA Range.

Donated from the museum's collection and generous volunteers, there was a wide variety of firearms at every lane. A MAC-10, M-4 Carbine, SOCOM-16, Ruger Mini-14, FN SCAR, Browning Automatic Rifle, SIG P230 and H&K UMP were just some of the available guns these brave men and women could try out.

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Wounded Veterans spend a day firing SIGs, Colts and more

Fairfax, Virginia - When twenty disabled veterans from Project Enduring Pride visited NRA Headquarters last month they were treated to more than just a guided tour of the National Firearms Museum. After gazing at 600 years of firearms history, the vets joined friends and family at the NRA Range for a hands-on experience with some of the same guns they were just ogling.

Project Enduring Pride helps combat-wounded servicemen and women in the Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Richmond areas transition from military to civilian life. Thinking veterans would enjoy getting behind the sights again, the NRA Range spent more than two months organizing sponsors and volunteers before inviting Enduring Pride for its afternoon of fun.

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Helping wounded warriors upon their arrival back home

Fairfax, Virginia - Disabled soldiers from Project Enduring Pride stopped by NRA Headquarters earlier this year for a tour of the NRA National Firearms Museum and a trip to the Range. Apparently the group had a whale of a time because they're on their way back for more.

Led by Director Ken Strafer, Project Enduring Pride assists the men and women who were wounded in the service of our country with the sometimes difficult transition from military to civilian life. Started out of what we all remember as the Walter Reed Army Medical in Bethesda, Maryland, the group does it's best to help our wounded warriors in the Washington, Richmond and Baltimore metro centers.

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With all the shooting that has been going on recently, how about a chance to do some of your own? The NRA is hosting one of its annual events at the NRA Range this April and there's still time to get in on the action.

NRA Rifle Manager H.Q. Moody wrote us about the event:

The 17th, 2012 Ken Quandahl Memorial and Spring Fling Regional is scheduled to be contested April 21st and 22nd on the NRA Range.

This tournament is dedicated to a fine young man who was one of our local junior shooters. Ken moved on and attended the United States Naval Academy after graduating from High School and the Acorns JRC. He continued his love of competitive shooting and was the Naval Academy Rifle Team Captain; Ken graduated as a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

Just after he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant he contracted leukemia and passed away just a few years ago. This tournament is our way to keep Ken’s memory as a competitor alive.

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Project Enduring Pride helping transition of wounded soldiers

Project Enduring Pride participant enjoys his marksmanship with a M1 Garand rifle at the NRA Range

Fairfax, Virginia - There were two parts to Project Enduring Pride's visit to the National Rifle Association earlier this week — the National Firearms Museum and the NRA Headquarters Range. While Kerrin accompanied those who toured the Museum, I stayed with the men and women who decided to take on the range.

Enduring Pride helps those who were wounded in the service of our country with the transition from military to civilian life. If one uses Tuesday's outing as a barometer of Pride's progress, I'd say they're doing one heck of a job.

"A number of people go through the range every week," said Customer Service Specialist Debra Crews. "I can't remember the last time we've seen so many smiling faces out on the line. Now that they all have their Range ID Cards, I hope to see them down here more often."

Volunteers from NRA Headquarters and the U.S. Border Patrol took personal time to man the thirteen open bays, each with either a pistol or rifle ready to fire. Among the options were a Smith & Wesson 4566, a Mac 10, a 1911, an M-1 Garand and a M4 rifle. Taking turns, the soldiers and family members spent a few hours sending shots down range with great success.

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The National Rifle Association welcomes wounded warrior group

Fairfax, Virginia - Project Enduring Pride creates recreational and educational opportunities to wounded service members. Founded at the Walter Reed Army Hospital back in 2006, Enduring Pride helps bridge the return of our wounded service men and women to the civilian world. One of those event took place today at the National Rifle Association.

With a group numbering around forty, including volunteers and family members, Enduring Pride arrived with plans to experience what some of us here at NRA Headquarters see every day. Among the stops were the NRA Cafe, the Headquarters Range and the National Firearms Museum.

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Fairfax, Virginia - Debbie Crews from the NRA Headquarters Range contacted us a few weeks ago to talk about an event at NRA Headquarters for the Enduring Pride Project. To quote from their website, “Project Enduring Pride is a community outreach program that works with and assists the severely wounded warriors returning from Afghanistan and Iraq and now recuperating at Military Medical Centers and Veterans Administrations Hospitals in the Washington, Richmond or Baltimore areas.”

Tomorrow, Tuesday the 24th, a group of these wounded warriors will arrive at the National Rifle Association to enjoy a little lunch, take a tour of the National Firearms Museum, and fire off a few rounds down in the range.

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There's a lot going on at the NRA's Headquarters Range. There's the Monday night shooting leagues, Cowboy Action shooting and if we're lucky — maybe even a camera crew or two.

If you remember when Larry the Cable Guy came into town, he spent time up in the Museum, down in the Vault and over at the Headquarters range. We've had our cameras down there two for events such as the Youth Education Summit and the Veterans Day Shoot ... now we're hoping to do a little more.

Now we can't name the production company or say on which network where the shows will appear, but it should be a doozy. To the right you see members of the crew working out the details with NRA Range Manager Greg Wodack — which is a doozy of an effort on it's own.

With all the events already scheduled for the month, it'll take quite a bit of juggling to make this one fit. But once we figure it out, get the shots and put the show in the can, we'll be sure to let you know where you can see the NRA Headquarters Range in action.

There's a number of items on the agenda as the National Rifle Association enters the month known as December — it's not just for Santa anymore.

First on the list is today's Service Awards Ceremony. That's where we recognize those who have spent at least five years working for the NRA. Awards go to those who've served five years, ten years, fifteen etc ... Word is that there'll be a forty-five year Service Award handed out today. How about that for devotion to the cause?

Next week we're hosting the Military Channel for a screening of their new show Triggers, which reminds me ... are you coming? We still have some seats left for this special viewing here at headquarters. Just send me an email at ldalseide@nrahq.org so I can put you on the list.

What else? What else? What am I have the final "Night at the Museum" for 2011, a Blood Drive on the 15th, a few special events down at the NRA Headquarters Range, an office Christmas party or two and finally the ramp up for the ever overwhelming SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It's going to be an interesting month.