John McLaurin III, the First Shot Speaker, poses with the 2007 first shot rifle after firing the 'First Shot.'

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Over 600 officials, competitors and spectators gathered at Camp Perry’s Rodriquez Range for the 2007 National Matches First Shot Ceremony Monday afternoon.

The First Shot Ceremony is the traditional opening for the National Matches. This year’s speaker was Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Mr. John McLaurin III.

The National Matches, created by the U. S. government in 1903, have a proud heritage that looks back to the National Rifle Association’s ‘Annual Matches’ that began in 1873 and to the establishment of Camp Perry in 1907.

The ceremony began with a parachute jump by Maj. Larry Henry and Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Piwarski of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group of the Ohio National Guard, that brought an American flag onto Drop Zone Camp Perry from a UH-60 Blackhawk piloted by Chief Warant Officer 4 Rob Diamond of the 137th Aviation Battalion also of the Ohio National Guard. This flag was then passed to a color guard that raised it on the main Camp Perry flagpole to begin the ceremony.

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur provided the flag, which was flown over the U.S. Capital in recognition of the Camp Perry Centennial National Matches.

Members of the 122nd Army Band, under the direction of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robin Kessler played the National Anthem. They also performed a concert for the audience prior to the ceremony.

At the end of the National Anthem, two F-16 Fighting Falcons, piloted by Col. Richard “Rooster” Lohnes, Commander, and Col. Craig Wallace of the 178th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ohio National Guard flew-over Rodriguez Range in a salute to the opening of the Camp Perry Centennial National Matches.

Two F-16 Fighting Falcons, piloted by Col. Richard "Rooster" Lohnes, Commander, and Col. Craig Wallace of the 178th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ohio National Guard fly over the First Shot Ceremony to salute the opening of the Camp Perry Centennial National Matches.

The Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, was scheduled to speak and present two resolutions during the ceremony. Unfortunately, Governor Strickland had a family emergency and could not attend. In his place, Maj. Gen. Greg Wayt, the Adjutant General of Ohio and a member of the Governor’s cabinet, spoke and presented two resolutions commending the NRA and the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

CMP Director Gary Anderson, master-of-ceremonies, then introduced the First Shot Speaker, Mr. John McLaurin III, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army. Mr. McLaurin holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Mississippi and is a graduate of the Army War College. He retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Mr. McLaurin began by inviting the crowd to take off their jackets due to the hot weather. He spoke of the early marksmanship of the pioneers that gave birth to America and the values that were taught by the shooting sports such as discipline and obedience to orders. “Were it not for the marksmanship of our forefathers, there would be no United States of America,” he stated.

He fondly recalled attending the 2007 National Junior ROTC Air Rifle Championship. He said, “the values displayed by [those] young men and women can raise goose bumps on your arms and bring tears to [your] eyes.”

“Without shooting sports in America,” said McLaurin, “it would be a whole lot more difficult to mold the future leaders of America. What you see in the press about what is happening with America’s youth is not what’s happening with American’s youth who are in marksmanship.”

After McLaurin’s speech, Anderson invited him to step to the firing line to fire the ceremonial first shot to officially open the 2007 National Matches.

Bushmaster is selling the remainder of the series at the 2007 National Matches and will contribute $100 from every Limited Edition Camp Perry National Match DCM-XR Series Rifles sold to the CMP’s Junior Highpower National Match Support Program. This program is used to used to help pay travel and competition expenses for junior shooters who participate in the National Trophy Rifle Matches.

Members of the Coast Guard Shooting Team pose with First Shot Speaker John McLaurin III, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army after firing the 'First Shot'.