Gunfire Salute For Charter's First Day

A traditional gunfire salute marked the beginning of the new school year this morning at the Marblehead Community Charter Public School. MCCPS began Monday -- more than week before any other public school in town.

The opening day festivities began at 7:30 a.m.  with students lining up by grade in the field across from the school.  Then, Glover's Regiment - a Marblehead Revolutionary War re-enactment group -- marched across the street to the school's flagpole, with the 230 students following.

Principal Nina Cullen-Hamzeh welcomed back students and parents and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Then the Regiment fired its salute.  

"We fire reproduction flintlock muskets that are the same as those used by members of Glover's Marblehead Regiment during the American Revolution," said the Regiment's Larry Sands.

"We're the only school in the country that starts its year with authorized gunfire," Cullen-Hamzeh said to applause from the crowd.

As the musket smoke billowed, students headed inside the school.

Charter is celebrating its 16th year this fall. It holds the honor of being the state's first charter school to open its doors.

The rest of Marblehead's public schools will begin Tuesday, Sept 7th.