FRED CHRASTIL CORNHUSKER STATE GAMES 2021 SENIOR ATHLETE
Senior Athlete of 2021
Link to video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3uSXKpqZRw
The Video interview was just under an hour long edited down to under 3 minutes, so, it left out a lot of things I would like to explain. Post 3 American Legion Member.
I never cared much for team sports, but competitive shooting really triggered my interest. I read everything I could find on shooting, and that increased my interested in history, as we have a very rich history of firearms ownership in the United States that stands apart from the rest of the world. I was very blessed to get excellent training from the NRA, the Civilian Marksmanship program, and the Army Marksmanship Unit. The highlight for me was going to Camp Perry (the mother church for shooting competition in the USA) in the 70s to the 90s. Unlike sports with a ball, rifle and pistol shooting does not require brute strength or a burst of speed, but rather endurance, stamina and good hand, eye coordination. A typical pistol match can last 2 to 6 hours. Once you have mastered the fundamentals, they become part of your muscle memory, and it is all about sights and trigger squeeze. Six hours of training a week will allow me to improve, but I rarely manage to do that time. Match pressure is my worst enemy, so I never look at the scores until the match is over. When I won the service pistol leg match in 1970 at the old Dodge Park Range in Omaha, it was because I did not think I had a chance to medal much less win, as there were military teams there from Offutt, Iowa, Fort Riley Kansas, Lincoln and even a Coast Guard team from Omaha! Competitive shooting has taught me ethics, self-esteem, and personal responsibility. I consider Bullseye shooting (now called Precision shooting) to be the hardest to excel in, but the easiest to train for. If you keep yourself healthy and fit, don’t smoke, and stay away from caffeine drinks before a match, you can compete into your senior years. Competitive shooting as well as my interest in running and biking has allowed me to meet and gain hundreds of friends from all walks of life and backgrounds but, we have the same interest, the love of the sport.
Shoot safely, shoot often, and keep them in the ten-ring.
HONOR 365
Quilts of Honor Awards 2019 Post 3
Richard Christy
Served in Vietnam 67-69
C Battery 6th Battalion 84 Field Artillery
Frank Rall
WWII Veteran
15th AirForce, 98th bomb group, 344 squadron flying in B24's.
Was shot down, landing in Yogolsavia after 13 missions
District 15 Citizenship Award 2019-20
Commander District 15
Jack Sibert the District 15 recipient of the 2019 District Citizenship
Award, received his medal from District 15 Commander Gerry Wolf at the
District 15 convention. His medal will be presented at the Department Convention in Kearney.
HONORS POST 3
Cody Kerr Award
July 2018-19
For more than 60 years, the
Department of Nebraska has
recognized Legionnaires for their
community service through its
Cody Kerr Memorial Award.
At the time of his death, 47-year
old Cody Kerr, a World War II
veteran from Valentine, was the
department’s community service
chairman. His selfless service
to The American Legion and the community was so well respected that his
Legionnaire friends wanted to find a way to honor his memory. They did so by
developing the Cody Kerr Memorial Award, which was first presented to his
widow, Belle Kerr, in 1954.
This award, presented annually at department convention, is given to a
Legionnaire who has performed superior work in a community service project
or program for the prior year. Any Legion member can nominate another
Legionnaire and the selection committee is comprised of the three immediate
past department commanders.
The 2018 recipient of the Cody Kerr Memorial Award was presented to Post
3’s very own Ed Schnabel at the department convention in Kearney. While most of us are aware of Ed’s daily contributions to American Legion activities in Post3, the Cody Kerr Award recognizes Ed for the many other things he does in the
community in service to others.
Space does not allow printing Ed’s entire nomination form, but it made it clear
that Ed was most deserving.
Ed taught school and was active in other civic activities in Hartington. He also
taught school in Farnam and organized a committee to start a community blood
drive there. (He continues donating blood to this day and is an 19-gallon donor
with the Lincoln Community Blood Bank.)
Ed became active with the Lions in Farnam and helped charter a new Lions
Club in Lincoln. He remains very active with the Star City Lions club now.
Ed has been involved with a number of projects within the Lincoln Public
Schools and volunteers many hours at the VA Health Clinic in Lincoln. He
participates with Post 3’s Honor Guard and remains very active in his church.
Congratulations, Ed, for making all of us very proud of you!