“Let’s Make These Good Weeks”: The Centennial First Shot Ceremony

With the flags of fifty states waving in the ever-present wind off of Lake Erie and the National Anthem being played by the 122nd Army National Guard Band, an air of ceremony and celebration reminiscent of the Fourth of July permeated Camp Perry on July 14th, as the U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard from Marblehead station placed the colors to begin the First Shot Ceremony of the 100th National Rifle and Pistol Matches.

And perhaps the ceremony and even the whole of the National Matches can best be summed up by one sentiment spoken by Colonel Ken Daft, Ohio National Guard State Chaplain, during the invocation at the beginning of the ceremony. “Let’s make these good weeks,” he stated and indeed that is all that can be asked of the time at Camp Perry. Let’s make these good weeks of sportsmanship. Let’s make these good weeks of tradition. Let’s make these good weeks of competition and comradery. And above all, let’s make these good weeks of safety and enjoyment.

During each First Shot Ceremony in recent history, a notable official, shooter or public officer has been asked to fire the First Shot. In 2001, Olympic Gold Medalist Nancy Johnson fired the first shot. In 2002, Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, J.B. Hudson had the honors. The Centennial First Shot was historical for it was the first time that a past Camp Perry champion had fired the shot to begin competition. Six time National Pistol Champion and triple distinguished shooter Bill Blankenship, setting aside his pistol shooting past, stepped to the firing line and shouldered the 1898 Krag rifle (representative of the service rifle used in the first National Matches in 1903) and in one squeeze of the trigger ushered in a new century of competition at Camp Perry. Mr. Blankenship spoke of many good days and weeks at Camp Perry and the role shooting has played in his life.

The 2003 First Shot ceremony was historic for a number of reasons: Bill Blankenship was the first former champion given the honor of firing the First Shot; the ceremony was the start of the 100th National Matches. However, most importantly the 2003 First Shot ceremony will perhaps be most remembered as the beginning of a new century in the shooting sports in an era where these same sports could easily slip away and be forgotten. The National Rifle and Pistol Matches, due in part to the work of the Civilian Marksmanship Program and the National Rifle Association show the world that the shooting sports are a viable and valuable tradition which, if lost, would leave a gap in the sporting world and even the traditions of the United States. So, let’s make these good weeks. For good years follow good weeks and in time, another century of sportsmanship, tradition, competition, comradery and safety will come to pass.