The first summer after USMRA's founding in 1999, Ranger Joe Amerling hosted a cookout at his house for the association's first members — hamburgers, hotdogs, and all the members and families invited. But many wanted a gathering where it was just Rangers, out in the woods, being themselves. The Critter Cookout was born from that idea.
For years the cookout was held at Penn Cove, with Rangers bringing meat and food harvested from the surrounding mountains. As the event grew, Penn Cove became too small for the crowd it drew.
In 2004, the Critter Cookout moved to Pine Valley, about 5 miles west of Dahlonega — the site of the first Mountain Ranger Camp. USMRA dedicated a monument there that year, and Rangers came from far and wide for the cookout and the memorial dedication.
In 2005, Camp Merrill's command staff asked USMRA to hold the Critter Cookout alongside the 5th RTB Open House. That pairing has drawn Rangers from far and wide for a weekend of fellowship and brotherhood ever since. And now, Ranger family members are invited to participate.
What Happens Each Year
- The Fallen Ranger Memorial Road is dedicated to six Rangers who have gone to the final patrol base
- Six former, but living, Ranger Instructors are honored by naming a planning bay in each Ranger's honor
- Merit-based college scholarships are awarded to children or grandchildren of USMRA members
Mostly, it's a weekend to celebrate the lives of Rangers present and past, and a commitment to never letting those memories fade.
2017 Critter Cookout and Ranger Open House Video