Today's feature is from the Civilian Marksmanship Program.
The festivities are all part of the CMP’s annual D-Day Event, featuring three days of marksmanship competition with vintage U.S. and foreign rifles and military & police pistols, many of which were used by the military in both World Wars. This year’s event marks the fourth anniversary of the park’s opening and the 75th anniversary of the Allied Forces’ landing on Normandy’s beaches.
As Nazi Germany’s campaign to occupy neighboring countries grew in 1944, a coordinated force led by the United States, Great Britain, France and Canada was launched against the Third Reich on June 6 and was known as the “Longest Day” by those who lived through it and immortalized in a film by the same name.
In honor of all military veterans, the CMP invites families, friends and competitors to experience a slice of living history at one of the most beautiful public marksmanship parks anywhere in the U.S. The event will feature hundreds of WWII artifacts and several period vehicles and military equipment. Reenactors in WWII uniforms will walk the grounds, adding character to the event. Flyovers by vintage WWII aircraft will occur daily.
Several WWII vehicles will be onsite, including a U.S. Army Stuart 1943 M5A1 light tank, an M3A1 Halftrack, a Pack Howitzer cannon, several U.S. Army jeeps, a WWII field kitchen (with demonstrations) and multiple tables loaded with WWII equipment, gear and artifacts. Each event day, starting with the opening ceremony at 4 p.m. on June 6, a pair of vintage WWII Army Air Forces aircraft will make multiple passes over the park. The aircraft will appear five times over the four-day event - each morning with the playing of the National Anthem and concluding with two flights on the final day at the open and close of the Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match.
Spectators and visitors are welcome! There is no requirement to participate in the rifle and pistol events, but anyone who owns and safely demonstrates safe marksmanship practices are welcome to join in these recreation-oriented matches. There is bleacher seating available to spectators and the grounds are open to tour the 500-acre park that features bullseye rifle and pistol ranges, 15 action pistol bays and a massive shotgun sports area, including a one mile 15-station sporting clays loop.
The 2019 D-Day Event at CMP Talladega is supported by the U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum, Huntsville, AL, the Dixie Division Military Vehicles Club, the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, Peachtree, GA, and the 1st Patriots Support Corps, Huntsville, AL.
The CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park is located at 4387 Turner Mill Road, Talladega just off Interstate 20 via the Lincoln and Eastaboga exits. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at the park throughout the weekend. For more information, visit us on the Web at: www.TheCMP.org and http://thecmp.org/competitions/matches/talladega-d-day-match/.
Additional Links:
U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum
http://www.memorialmuseum.org
Dixie Division Motor Vehicle Club
http://www.ddmvpa.org
Dixie Wing Commemorative Air Force
https://dixiewing.org
- - Steve Cooper, CMP Training, Education & Marketing Manager
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearm safety and marksmanship training and to the promotion of marksmanship competition for citizens of the United States. For more information about the CMP and its programs, log onto www.TheCMP.org.