Ohio National Guard News

 

First Shot Ceremony opens 2015 National Matches

Story and Photos by Staff Sgt. George B. Davis, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

U.S. Rep. Robert Latta, of Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, fires the first shot of the National Rifle and Pistol Matches.

U.S. Rep. Robert Latta, of Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, fires the first shot of the National Rifle and Pistol Matches during a ceremony held at Camp Perry, July 6, 2015. The National Matches are held annually in July and August at the Ohio National Guard’s Camp Perry Military Joint Training Center near Port Clinton, Ohio. READ STORY

U.S. Rep. Robert Latta, of Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, makes opening remarks.

U.S. Rep. Robert Latta, of Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, makes opening remarks.

Dressed as “Rosie the Riveter,” Dawn Rumbutis (left) delivers the colors to the commander of color guard

Dressed as “Rosie the Riveter,” Dawn Rumbutis (left) delivers the colors to the commander of the color guard.

Current and retired service members comprise the color guard.

Current and retired service members comprise the color guard.

Vintage military aircraft fly over the First Shot Ceremony of the National Matches.

Vintage military aircraft fly over the First Shot Ceremony of the National Matches.


CAMP PERRY JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Ohio (07-06-15) — The 2015 National Rifle and Pistol Matches First Shot Ceremony was held July 6 at this Ohio National Guard installation near Port Clinton, Ohio, marking the opening of the 98th National Matches, which bring the best shooters together for one of the premiere marksmanship competitions in the world.

The National Matches are hosted each year by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), assisted through working partnerships with organizations including the Ohio National Guard and National Rifle Association (NRA). The five-week event brings more than 6,000 national and international civilian and military competitors, volunteers, spectators, vendors and family members to Camp Perry each summer.

Participants will compete in the NRA’s National Rifle and Pistol Championships and the CMP’s National Trophy Rifle and National Trophy Pistol Matches and Games Events. This year, Camp Perry will also host the prestigious World Long Range Championships, conducted by the NRA in August.

The pre-ceremony entertainment featured music by the Ohio National Guard’s 122nd Army Band and a historical World War II battle reenactment between a restored U.S. Navy TBM Avenger and B-17G bomber. The entertainment ended with “Rosie the Riveter” delivering the colors to the color guard. U.S. Rep. Robert Latta (R-Bowling Green), of Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, provided opening remarks and officially kicked off the 2015 National Matches by firing the ceremonial “first shot.”

“To most of us, the National Matches is considered the ‘World Series of the Shooting Sports,’"said Orest Michaels, a member of the Civilian Marksmanship Program board of directors and retired chief operating officer. "So it follows that Camp Perry, home to the matches since 1907, is like baseball’s Fenway Park in historic significance.”

The National Matches run through Aug. 13, 2015. For more information go to: http://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-national-matches/