Ok folks,
Last year at the Department Muster in Nebraska there were 2 things that I felt I did for the greater benefit of GAF....
1. Got Jerry to agree to host the Nationals this year.
2. Talked to Steff about designing a new Iron Trooper.
I admit that this was partially done for selfish reasons, as I did not recieved the award that I earned back in 2006. But there were some definate nonselfish reasons that I will now explain. I wanted the Iron Trooper to be of such a design that we would encourage people to join GAF and come to the National Event; because only one is awarded a year and you have to belong to GAF to win it.
Anyway, Steff said he is ready to start casting...the Iron Trooper will be a "dinner plate" medal. Meaning it will be worn around the neck on a black silk ribbon. It is comprised of the wreath modeled after the Marine Expert Rifle Badge and the Maltese Cross again borrowed from the Marine Sharpshooters badge. It will also have the year in which the awardee won The Iron Trooper.
Oh, I forgot to mention, it will be cast out of Sterling Silver....Now, I will obviously be posting photos when I get it. But, It will be a medal truly worthy of the title Iron Trooper.
2004 Iron Trooper Colonel Diamond aka Dave Birk
2005 Iron Trooper Shootn Newton aka George Newton
2006 Iron Trooper Major Matt Lewis aka Richard Gimbert
2007 Iron Trooper Pitsptr aka Jerry Davenport
2008 Iron Trooper You?
I know I will be purchasing one, I think Jerry will be purchasing one and so will Dave Birk. I believe it will be awarded going forward.