Fairfax, Virginia - There are events in a person's life that are forever tied to a location. I remember where I was when X happened. For years that day for me was when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart just minutes into that January morning launch. That was until September 11th. A morning that changed all our lives.

The ground in our nation's capital shook when the plane hit the Pentagon. Maybe I just believe I felt it, I was only 10 miles away, relatively safe at home, but I felt it. The Flight 93 National Memorial off Route 30 in Pennsylvania always induces emotions of loss. And I can't begin to comprehend the effect the attacks had upon the city of New York.

More on Walter Weaver, his sacrifice and that of others on 9/11 ...

After injuries in Afghanistan, solider regains focus through hunting

NRAHuntersrights.org correspondent Tron Peterson tells the story of Dustin: a Wounded Warrior who found a calling through his love of hunting:

When Spc. Dustin Morrison woke up on the morning of April 11, 2011, he had no idea that his life was about to change forever.

Dustin, an infantryman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Division, had joined the Iowa National Guard when he was 17 years old. In late October 2010, his unit was deployed to Afghanistan. Their job was to provide full-spectrum operations in a combat theater, including lethal and non-lethal capabilities, support to Afghan National Army and Police units, as well as assistance to humanitarian relief initiatives.

On the morning of April 11, Dustin and his unit expected it would be business as usual. They loaded up in the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle) and headed out on a mission in the Paktia Province of eastern Afghanistan. The mood in the MRAP was tense. Everyone was focused on the mission and what they were trained to do. The sound of the loud diesel engine filled their ears as the vehicle moved steadily along the dirt road. The smell of wood smoke and the stench of the city penetrated their nostrils.

Read more on Dustin's experience in Afghanistan ...

Seventy-two years ago today, August 16, 1940, the Army Parachute Test Platoon conducted its first jump. Their success validated the innovative concept of inserting United States ground combat forces behind a battle line via parachute.

A little over two years later the first US Airborne operation occurred when 531 members of the 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment participated in Operation Touch in North Africa.

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Looking for something to do over Labor Day weekend? How about heading to Atlanta for the the NRA American Warrior 300? Right there at the at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, NRA has partnered with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. to help celebrate and honor America’s bravest and most respected fighting men and women. How are they doing that? By giving away 25,000 tickets to the Nationwide Series race.

Here's more:

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The National Firearms Museum is part of an elite group. Yes, they're a museum. Sure, they have an incredible collection of American History. But the elite group part of our meaning is that now they are part of the Blue Star Museum Initiative.

Created by the National Endowment of the Arts, in a collaborative effort with Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense, Blue Star Museums provide free admission to military personnel as well as members of their family. A summertime project, Blue Star begins on Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day.

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Sometimes it means a little, sometimes it means a lot, and sometimes it means nothing at all. When it comes to the Military, being "Just the Girlfriend" can mean next to nothing. And that's just the notion that NRA's Life of Duty decided to explore.

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New Competitive Shooting Director has experience in the field

John Parker was good enough to tell us a little bit about his new boss — Dennis Willing, Director of NRA's Competitive Shooting Division.

Fairfax, Virginia - NRA Competitive Shooting now has a long-time competitor at the helm. NRA Benefactor Member Dennis L. Willing, or Denny as his friends know him, is the new Director of the NRA Competitive Shooting division.

“As a competitor, I was offered my dream job and I intend to make the most of it,” said Willing.

Willing replaces Mike Krei, who retired after leading the division for six years. Willing will oversee a staff of 23 in managing over 11,000 NRA-sanctioned tournaments and over 40 national shooting championships. Hundreds of thousands of gun owners take part in these competitions nationwide, from the novice to the world-class competitor.

The wealth of experience that Willing brings to the position is unprecedented. A list of his accomplishments would include:

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For this weekend's image rewind, we go back two years to the 2010 Patriot’s Path Memorial Day Shoot. Above is Samantha Olsen of NRA Youth Programs. Sam, as we call her, is a skilled shotgun shooter who competed that weekend for Team NRA.

Joined by Bill Poole (Director of Education and Training), Kristin Stoner (Office of Advancement Events Manager), Samantha Olsen and Andy Lander (Instructor Program Coordinator), Team NRA bested Team Remington for bragging rights in the inaugural event.

On the morning of June 6, 1944, more than 170,000 Allied soldiers crossed the English Channel for a descent upon the sands of Normandy, France. With assaults set for beachheads designated as Gold, Sword, Omaha, Juno, Pointe du Hoc, and Utah, it was the courage, tenacity and ingenuity of the commanders and their men that allowed the Allies to secure a foothold in Europe. 

As they rallied for departure, Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower addressed the crowd:

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

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