CAMP PERRY, OHIO - The traditional First Shot Ceremony took place July 9, 2012, marking the opening of the National Matches, held annually by the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the National Rifle Association, and the Ohio National Guard. The ceremony marks the beginning of the national pistol, smallbore rifle, and highpower rifle championship and CMP Games events.
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Gary Anderson, Director Emeritus of the Civilian Marksmanship Program, served as master of ceremonies for the 2012 First Shot Ceremony at the opening of the National Matches.
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This year’s ceremony also marked the 87th National Matches occurring here, and 140 years of competitive shooting sports in the United States. During these five weeks competitors will arrive on post from all over the country to compete in more than 100 different matches.
After a brief introduction from the master of ceremonies, Gary Anderson, Director Emeritus of the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the ceremony began with the delivery of the American Flag that will fly over the ranges throughout the 2012 National Matches. This special flag was delivered by troops emerging from two armored personnel carriers that traveled down the range access road by the 812th ONG Engineer Company, based in Wooster, Ohio.
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Soldiers from the Ohio Army National Guard 812th Engineers, based in Wooster, emerge from their armored personnel carrier and secure the parade ground for delivery of the American Flag during a combat demonstration.
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Upon arrival, soldiers exited the carriers and set up a perimeter around the flag exchange area near the grandstand. It was first presented to Mr. Anderson and transferred to an awaiting color guard that raised it on the flagpole in Shooters Memorial Plaza, where it will fly until the final shot on August 14.
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The 812th Engineers squad leader delivers the Stars and Stripes to an awaiting Gary Anderson and color guard in preparation for raising on the flagpole in the Shooters Memorial Plaza.
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Judith Legerski, Chairman of the Civilian Marksmanship Program Board of Directors, introduced featured First Shot speaker LTG William Ingram Jr., Director of the Army National Guard in Washington D.C.
Mrs. Legerski concluded her welcome of the National Guard’s second in command and said, “General, you honor us with your presence.”
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Judith Legerski, Chairman of the Civilian Marksmanship Program Board of Directors, thanked invited dignitaries, shooters and volunteers and introduced guest speaker, LTG William Ingram Jr.
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LTG Ingram, originally born and raised in North Carolina, said he has spent much of his early life around firearms, as his father was in the Army while he was growing up.
“This is an amazing event and I’m truly proud to be a part of it,” he said. “I cannot imagine how many shots I have taken in my lifetime, but I know one thing for sure, no shot ever fired will be more important than this one coming up,” he said.
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LTG William Ingram Jr., second in command of the U.S. Army National Guard, a lifelong shooter, said “I cannot imagine how many shots I have taken in my lifetime, but I know one thing for sure, no shot ever fired will be more important than this one coming up.”
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LTG Ingram recapped the history of the National Matches and applauded the event’s planning, saying “it’s a great partnership between the NRA, CMP and the National Guard.
“It’s easy to see how this has become the World Series of the shooting sports,” he followed.
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Following his remarks, LTG Ingram fired the ceremonial first shot of the 2012 National Matches with a CMP Special Grade M1 Garand rifle, which he later purchased.
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After ending his speech, LTG Ingram fired the ceremonial first shot of the 2012 National Matches with a CMP Special Grade M1 Garand rifle, which he later privately purchased. As the first shot was taken, the target 600 yards away on Rodriguez Range disintegrated into a cloud of colored smoke – thanks to pyrotechnics installed by range personnel.
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Special guests, from left, are Dennis Willing, Director of NRA Competitive Shooting, Major General Deborah Ashenhurst, Ohio Adjutant General, Judith Legerski, CMP Board Chairman, DCME Gary Anderson and LTG Ingram.
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Upon completion of the ceremony LTG Ingram was presented with a commemorative ‘thank you’ coin from the Civilian Marksmanship Program and it was announced by Mr. Anderson that “the 2012 National Matches are now officially open.”
To find information on the 2012 National Matches, visit the CMP website at
http://www.thecmp.org/NM.htm or the NRA website at
http://www.nrahq.org/compete/nm_campperry.asp. To view photos from the First Shot Ceremony, log onto
http://cmp1.zenfolio.com/.
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