CMP and National Matches Commemorate 100 Years in 2003 Each year, when competitors gather at Camp Perry, Ohio for the National Matches, there is an air of festivity, of celebration and competition. 2003 will be especially unique when it comes to festivity, however. This year, celebrations will be staged to commemorate 100 years of National Match shooting and the founding of the Civilian Marksmanship Program. The events associated with these two centennials will showcase 100 years of marksmanship history to make 2003 especially memorable to National Matches participants and marksmanship enthusiasts everywhere. It all started in February 1903, when the U. S. Congress amended the War Department Appropriations Bill to establish the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice. This government advisory board became the predecessor to today's Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety that governs the CMP. The legislation also authorized the establishment of the National Matches, commissioned the National (Dogs of War) Trophy and provided funding to support the National Matches. Motivating factors in promoting this historic act were general concerns about improving military marksmanship and the loss of the Palma Trophy to Canada in 1901. Key leaders in enacting this historic act were Secretary of War Elihu Root, Senator John Dryden of New Jersey, Senator Redfield Proctor of Ohio, Congressman Frank Mondell of Wyoming and NRA President Gen. Bird Spencer. The amendments also had the active support of President Theodore Roosevelt. Pursuant to the Congressional authorization, Army General Order No. 61 was published in April 1903. It directed that the "National Trophy Match" would first be fired at Sea Girt, New Jersey on 8-9 September of that year. Teams of 12 representing the Army, military departments of the states, Navy, Marine Corps and state National Guard organizations were to fire 10 shots each with the U. S. service rifle in the standing or prone positions at distances of 200, 300, 500, 600, 800, 900 and 1000 yards. A New York State National Guard team fired a score to 2988 to win the first National Trophy Match and become the first team to have its name permanently etched on the new trophy. To help commemorate its one-hundredth year, the CMP has unveiled a new logo that will be used in anniversary activities.

The CMP Centennial Logo To commemorate its 100th year, the CMP has unveiled a new logo that will be used in honor of this anniversary. The logo features the Roman god Mars. The National Trophy The United States Congress commissioned the National Trophy in 1903 when it established the National Matches. This prestigious trophy is usually called the "Dogs of War" trophy. The Dogs of War image is featured in the new CMP centennial logo (above) and will be featured in many 2003 centennial activities.

The logo features the Roman god Mars leading his dogs of war. This image appears on the Dogs of War National Trophy that was created in response to the 1903 congressional amendments. The National Trophy has now become the most coveted team trophy in American shooting sports. Details regarding festivities planned for the CMP and National Matches centennials will be released through The First Shot, the CMP web site and National Matches programs. The 2003 National Matches will feature special centennial events during the First Shot Ceremony on 14 July and a special centennial celebration at the end of the National Trophy Rifle Matches on 9 August. Plan now to attend so that you can be part of the Centennials and inaugurate another 100 years of American marksmanship history.