10/20/2026
As we reflect on the past nine years, we want to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation to the many incredible people who have helped make the Standby to Fly Initiative what it is today.
Nine years ago, this event started with a simple idea: bring USPSA competitors together for a common cause—supporting veterans in our community.
What began as a local, seven-stage match with about 50 competitors quickly grew into something far greater than we could have ever imagined.
Year after year, the match continued to grow in attendance, sponsorships, and, most importantly, its impact on the veteran community.
In our first year, we raised $8,000. That grew to $17,000, then $25,000, and before long, we were raising $80,000 to $100,000 per event. What started by bringing together competitors from across New England soon attracted shooters from throughout the country and even internationally.
None of this would have been possible without all of you- volunteers, sponsors, competitors and veterans!
So many of you have generously donated your time, expertise, resources, and countless weekends to make this event successful.
From designing and building stages to working the match, coordinating logistics, securing sponsors, and handling the countless details behind the scenes, every contribution played a part in making Standby to Fly something truly special.
This year's match was our greatest yet. From start to finish, the event ran exceptionally well, thanks to the dedication of more than 65 volunteers who came together to make it happen. It was a remarkable reflection of just how far we have come.
Together, we have officially donated more than $560,000 to support veterans and veteran organizations here in Maine and across the country.
What began as a simple idea has made a meaningful difference in the lives of countless veterans, and that impact will continue well beyond the match itself.
We also want to extend a special thank you to Hampden R***e and Pistol Club for believing in this mission from the beginning. Their continued support and investment in the range and this event have been instrumental in its success. To think that we started with just four shooting bays and have grown to thirteen is remarkable. We are truly grateful for the partnership and support HRPC has provided throughout this journey.
With all of that said, we also have some difficult news to share.
After considerable thought and discussion, we have come to the very challenging decision that we will no longer be hosting the Standby to Fly Benefit Match.
As the event has grown, so have the time, planning, and commitments required to deliver the experience that competitors, sponsors, and volunteers have come to expect. We have reached a point where we recognize that we can no longer dedicate the same amount of time and energy necessary to continue hosting the match at the level it deserves.
This was not an easy decision. We have invested so much of ourselves into this event over the past nine years, and we know that many of you have as well. We are incredibly proud of what we have built together, and we want to see that legacy continue in a meaningful way.
As part of this transition, we will be donating all of our match equipment and supplies, including our conex container, steel targets, and other resources, to Hampden R***e and Pistol Club. We hope these contributions will continue to benefit the club, its members, and the shooting community for many years to come.
While the Standby to Fly Benefit Match is coming to an end, the Standby to Fly Initiative is not going anywhere. We are simply shifting gears.
Our commitment to supporting veterans remains unchanged. We will continue finding ways to give back and support local veteran organizations, carrying forward the same mission that brought us all together nine years ago.
Most importantly, we want to thank each and every one of you.
Whether you have been with us since the very first match or joined us somewhere along the way, please know that your efforts have never gone unnoticed. The countless hours, long days, early mornings, and weekends you have given have made an extraordinary difference.
From all of us on the Standby to Fly Initiative Board, thank you for believing in this mission, for giving so much of yourselves, and for helping turn a simple idea into something that has made a lasting impact.
We are grateful for every one of you and hope to see you all around the range.
-The Standby to Fly Initiative Board
