By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer
CAMP PERRY, Ohio – The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is proud to announce the lineup for the 2018 First Shot Ceremony, set to take place Monday, July 9, at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility, near Port Clinton, Ohio. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the base’s Rodriguez Range and is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome to come and witness the parade of historical vehicles, aircraft and pyrotechnics that pay homage to history while also spectacularly initiating the 2018 National Matches season.
The First Shot Ceremony serves as a greeting event for guests, participants, volunteers and staff conducting the 2018 National Matches at Camp Perry, which feature the finest pistol and rifle shooters in America.
Firing the ceremonial First Shot down Rodriguez Range will be Maj. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, Jr. – Commanding General of the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command and the Senior Commander of TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, U.S. Army Garrison-Detroit Arsenal, Mich. The First Shot marks the official start of the National Matches.
The National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches have assembled talented marksmen and women at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility since 1907. The first CMP National Matches of the 2018 season will fire on July 14, beginning with the pistol competitions, and will conclude on August 8, following CMP’s new Long Range matches. Several other pistol, rifle and air gun competitions and clinics are scheduled throughout the National Matches to accommodate the thousands of visitors expected to participate in the annual event.
