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Great articles. Great to identify those who are participating as well as those who are working behind the scenes to make the whole of the National Matches run so well.
David D.
Boxford, MA
This is a special note just for my friends at the CMP, I want to thank you all for your hard work and attention to details, it's a great program!
"You help our shooting dreams come true!"
Best Regards,
Tony M.
CMP,
Your review of the CMP EIC brought back good memories. My son and I usually participate in the rifle event. This was the first time we participated in the pistol event. Our experience was positive and we have decided to come back and do it again next year!
DAVE J. H.
I don't think that I have taken the time lately to thank you and the CMP for your faithfulness in keeping me updated on all of the CMP news. I thank you and your staff very much for the fine job you are all doing.
Many thanks, and keep up the great work!
Pete
Your article titled "Rifle Cleaning and Maintenance" was so timely. I am a novice rifle shooter, and the information is just what I needed. The owner's manual that came with my rifle is far too sketchy and assumes the new owner is experienced. This is concise yet detailed enough to make me comfortable cleaning my firearm.
Regards,
Jane W.
Cleaning a rifle or handgun is not a lot of fun. The article on cleaning the rifle met the K.I.S.S. principle that I can relate to and understand. To the point.
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I greatly enjoy the USAMU shooting tips in the newsletter and also being able to find them on-line.
Regards, Ray in FLA
EXCELLENT BRIEF UNDERSTANDABLE ARTICLE ON SITTING RAPID POSITION, BEING CLOSE TO 60 THIS IS MY WORST POSITION AND ANY HELP I CAN GET IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!
GOOD ARTICLE; MARTY
SFC Singley:
It has been a while, but I sent CMP a request for a TFS article on possible means by which us "centrally endowed" (read that as 'fat') shooters might work ourselves into a useable sitting position. Spring is coming and I will be trying to get ready for matches. Your article has been copied and I will read it and work on trying the options you have provided. Thanks very much for your individual military service to our Nation and for your personal efforts to help other shooters improve our skills.
Melvin C.
Really enjoyed the M1 for Vets article. Its really good to read something that was done for wounded vets. The match must have been a real wingding. Too cold for me. There is alot of history 1903 Springfield and the M1 . I had to sleep with my o3 for baning the butt on the deck in boot camp. Anyway thanks again for the story.
Jim N., Ok
I enjoy the TFS. In fact, occasionally I like to print some of the articles to be able to review them in the future.
James L. M.
Whenever we come back in from the field it’s always a good day when “The First Shot” is in. I drill the guys in the fundamentals – many of which I learned and fine tuned at CMP matches – and it comes back in spades out here when it really counts!
Dean H.
LTC - US Army
Security Advisor
Kabul/Afghanistan


Printable Version

2007 “Camp Perry Centennial” National Matches Close

By Gary Anderson, DCM


Retiring National Matches Highpower Match Director Jim Hill stands ready to fire the canon that will signal the lowering of the colors to end the 2007 National Matches.

National Matches Highpower Match Director Jim Hill had the honor of firing the canon that signaled “colors” at the Matches one last time on 14 August as the 2007 “Camp Perry Centennial” National Matches came to a close. It was Hill’s last day as Match Director after serving in that capacity for the CMP and NRA highpower rifle championships for the past 13 years. It was a memorable ending to a great National Matches and one more special experience in one of the most remarkable careers in marksmanship.

Hill began his career as a Marine Corps marksman where he won a series of Marine Corps, national and international titles in rifle competitions. Highlights included the National Highpower Rifle Championship in 1956, an Olympic Silver Medal in 1960 and the NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championship in 1964. He is one of just 36 Triple Distinguished shooters in the history of American Marksmanship, having won his Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1956, his Distinguished International Shooters Badge in 1960 and his Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge in 1986. After his retirement from the Marine Corps he returned to Camp Perry many times where he won a series of Civilian service rifle titles. He also founded a successful shooting sports business, Creedmoor Sports Inc. in Oceanside, California. While in that business, Hill made significant contributions to the design of shooting clothing and equipment. For the last 15 years, Hill has served as an official in the National Matches, having been Highpower Match Director for the last 13 years.

Match Director Jim Hill stands at attention by the Camp Perry canon as flags are lowered and two buglers play taps to mark the end of the 2007 Camp Perry Centennial National Matches.

The brief, but memorable ceremony that ended the 2007 National Matches began with Hill firing the canon that is fired each morning to signal colors and start the day’s firing. The USA, Ohio and Ottawa County flags were then lowered for the last time during the 2007 Matches as two buglers played taps. The Matches began on 9 July with a special First Shot Ceremony and continued for 37 days. Over 6,000 competitors participated in National Matches competitions that included Pistol and Rifle Small Arms Firing Schools, the NRA National Pistol Championship, CMP National Trophy Pistol Matches, NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championships, CMP National Rimfire Sporter Match, the CMP National Trophy Rifle and CMP Games Matches and the NRA National Highpower Rifle Championships.

The 2007 National Matches were unique because they celebrated 100 years of National Matches at Camp Perry. The Matches were established by the U. S. Congress and President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. They came to Camp Perry for the first time in 1907 after Ohio Adjutant General Ammon Critchfield founded Camp Perry and convinced the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice that what was formerly swampland along the Lake Erie shore was an ideal site for the Matches. Since then, 83 National Matches have been held at Camp Perry and it is now regarded as the permanent home of the Matches.

NRA Competitions Director Mike Krei (l.), Camp Perry Commander COL Jim Chisman, OHNG (center) and CMP Director Gary Anderson (r.) unveil a plaque memorializing the planting of a Centennial Oak tree that commemorates the 2007 Camp Perry Centennial National Matches.

After the flag lowering, representatives of the three National Matches partners, Colonel Jim Chisman, Camp Perry Commander, for the Ohio National Guard; Mr. Mike Krei, NRA Competitions Director, for the NRA and Gary Anderson, Director of Civilian Marksmanship, for the CMP; unveiled a plaque commemorating the planting of a Centennial Oak tree. The tree, a swamp oak, is located just north of CMP North headquarters.

Chisman, Krei and Anderson each made brief comments on the closing of the Centennial Matches. CMP Director Anderson noted “three significant things about the Camp Perry Centennial: first, that the National Matches are still at Camp Perry after 100 years; second, that we have now evolved an effective, true partnership involving the Ohio National Guard, NRA and CMP in the conduct of the Matches and third, that so many good things are happening at Camp Perry to give us confidence that just as the Centennial Oak will grow, the National Matches also will continue to grow.”

At the end of the 2007 National Matches closing ceremony, American flags that had flown over Camp Perry during the Matches were presented to Jim Hill (far right), who was retiring as Highpower Match Director, and Chuck Delano, (2nd from right) who was retiring as Range Director.

The 2007 National Matches are now over. After successfully completing 100 years of National Matches competitions at Camp Perry, the stage is now set for many more decades of National Matches at Camp Perry.

 

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