To the members of Tradgang
I recently lost two sons. My twin boys, Samuel and Joseph were born and died shortly after. As my family grieves I have been thinking of the best way to remember them. We had a lot of hopes for their lives. One of mine was I could share with them the joys of traditional archery and bowhunting.
When I was about 12 or so a neighbor and family friend started me on this journey. He gave me a left handed bow and a pile of mismatched aluminum arrows. I tried to shoot that bow for months but could never get the hang of it being a lefty (I’m right handed). As with most young kids I moved on to other things for a while. In college I traded that bow for a right handed one. From then on traditional archery has been an integral part of my life. Only later, after it was gone, did I find out that the bow I was given was his son’s. The same son who had passed in a tragic farming accident much too early.
In honor of Samuel and Joseph I would like to make a similar gift. As they were infants they did not have bows of their own yet but I have given a Shakespeare Necedah along with a pile of mismatched arrows (and a few matched to the bow) to a friend who had expressed interest in traditional archery. Pictures are below. The bow I gave, much like the one that was given to me had been shelved for some time. I sanded off the patina of cigarette smoke, refinished it and made a couple of strings for it. This bow was given before I lost the boys but now in hindsight the timing is fitting. In the coming months I will be searching for another bow or two to pass along as well.
What I ask of you my brothers and sisters of the bow is this. In honor of my sons and all that they could have been, take out that old or neglected bow and shine it up. Gather up a few arrows that you will never use. Strap an old glove or tab to it and give it away. There are too many people that only need the nudge of equipment to join us in the field. There are too many bows that are sitting as part of a collection, now too heavy, too old, too low on the favorite shooters list. Give these bows a new life and spread the joy of archery in your communities. If you don't have a coworker, a friend, or a kid to pass these bows to call your local bow club, 4h club, boy scouts, or community college and find someone that will use them. Like me they may sit for a while but sooner or later they may meet you in the woods. The worst that can happen is they will gather dust on someone else's shelf.
If anyone needs help, needs a few arrows, needs a destination I am willing and able to support this effort. I know some of you are already doing this but please post those pictures as well. You will probably see this letter on a few different forums as my goal is to make the largest impact we can. Please post your pictures of bows, arrows, new shooters, etc. to this thread. I will do the best I can to cross post. We are all one community.
Thank You,
Caleb Deitz
Topic: In Memory (Read 1758 times)
