Fort Wayne Cannoneers

Fort Wayne Cannoneers The Fort Wayne Cannoneers is a Raytheon Corporate Chapter of the United States Army Field Artillery Association (USFAA). Brassell, USMC.

On 14 July 2003, Raytheon – Fort Wayne, Indiana, became the Field Artillery Association’s very first corporate chapter. The chapter was organized with an initial 26 members. The Raytheon chapter – called the “Fort Wayne Cannoneers Chapter” – got its start in October 2000 with the first annual Saint Barbara’s Day Luncheon organized by Colonel (Retired) Stephen M. Lutz, Raytheon’s AFATDS Program Man

ager; Milton J. Kinne, a former FA captain; and Master Sergeant (Retired) James E. More than 40 people attended the first luncheon and witnessed the awarding of three Honorable Order of Saint Barbara medals/ certificates. The next seven years’ Saint Barbara’s Day celebrations were in December with almost 100 Redlegs/Honorary Cannoneers attending each year, including local area Field Artillery Reservists, Army National Guardsmen and Fort Wayne’s Recruiting Company. The Fort Wayne Cannoneers Chapter continues to grow and is branching out to cover all Gunners, Redlegs, Cannon Cockers, Missileers, Bird Watchers, Duck Hunters, and Fire Supporters of the northeast Indiana area. To become a member, Indiana Redlegs can contact Jim Kinne at (260) 429-8164. Fort Wayne Cannoneers Board of Officers Apr 2014
President Stephen M Lutz
Vice President Scott R McMeen
Secretary Terry L Hastings
Treasurer Paul B Nichols
Membership Secretary Thomas A Baugher
Sergeant at Arms B. Scott (“Smitty”) Smith
Corresponding Secretary Pamela R Shook
Grand Guardian of the Artillery Punch Jim Kinne
Site Representative Thomas P McLaughlin
News Letter Editor Bruce H Golder


Past Presidents:
Steve Lutz 2001-2009
Terry Hastings 2010-2011

11/07/2023

St Barbara's Celebration coming up on Thursday, Dec 7th at the 1/293 IN National Guard Armory, 130 W Cook Rd in Fort Wayne 4:30 pm

FWCs servers at the rescue mission, Nov 2021: Mark Franke, Terry Hastings and Scott McMeen.
12/27/2021

FWCs servers at the rescue mission, Nov 2021: Mark Franke, Terry Hastings and Scott McMeen.

12/27/2021

Fort Wayne Cannoneers have resumed serving lunch at the Rescue Mission! Every 3rd Friday of the month, a team of select gunners volunteers to serve those in need in our community. On Friday, 17 December, Gunners Mark Franke, Terry Hastings and Scott McMeen reported for duty. Next opportunity will be Friday, 21 January 2022 (Pandemic permitting!).

08/31/2021

St. Barbara's Celebration Friday September 17 @ 5 PM at American Legion Post #47 (601 Reed Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46815).

11/13/2020

Fellow Gunners!
Your Fort Wayne Cannoneers Board of Directors has decided to postpone our planned St Barbara's Day Celebration, originally scheduled for Dec 3rd, to an undetermined future date. Given the current state of the Coronavirus Pandemic, we believe it would be unwise to proceed with a large, in person event at this time. We hope it will be possible to hold the event sometime next year, when infection rates and test positivity rates have moderated.
In the meantime, we urge everyone to stay safe and healthy, and extend our best wishes for a joyous holiday season.
Watch your mailbox for further announcements regarding the celebration.
SEMEL ET SIMUL (Together and at once, motto of the 78th FA Regt)
Scott McMeen
President
Fort Wayne Raytheon Cannoneers Chapter
United States Field Artillery Association

12/08/2018

Gunner Steve Bush performs POW-MIA-KIA Ceremony (video courtesy of Gunner Gary Stebbins)

Photos from 2018 St. Barbara's Day celebration, 06 Dec 2018
12/08/2018

Photos from 2018 St. Barbara's Day celebration, 06 Dec 2018

12/08/2018

2018 St Barbara's Celebration is a Great Success!

Fellow Gunners
We’ve done it again! More than fifty of us gathered in the Tech Center Board Room on 06 December 2018 for our 19th annual celebration. Things got started a little late this year. We hit a snag picking up lunch at Mancino’s. Although we provided them a detailed lunch order the day before, the kitchen staff did not at first understand that the positive integer shown next to the sandwich type indicated quantity! Oops! Once this problem was pointed out, however, they made up the missing sandwiches in quick time. The order was loaded in Gunner Nichols’ trusty Chevy pick-up and he headed for the Tech Center. Unfortunately, trusty Chevy pick-up stalled enroute, further delaying delivery. As board members contemplated sending out patrols to locate Gunner Nichols, he finally pulled up outside the main entrance. After that, things went pretty smoothly. Your Chapter President called the mess to order at approximately 1145 hours (1645-Z). The national anthem was played, Gunner Rob Branch provided the invocation, Gunner Dick Harnly lit the smoking lamp, and we sat down to enjoy our Mancino’s sandwiches and salads.
After enjoying our bountiful, though tardy, repast, we proceeded with the sacred rituals customary to our annual celebration. Gunner Steve Bush read the tribute to POWs, MIAs and the Fallen. Special guest Gunner/Father Dennis DiBenedetto read the legend of St Barbara. Gunner Tom McLaughlin presented the story of Molly Pitcher. Gunner Jim Kinne and his select team of distinguished gunners mixed and served the artillery punch.
We inducted two new members into the Honorable Order of St Barbara. Congratulations to Gunners Mike Smiegal and Jeff Clark. Gunner Mike Smiegal was selected for the honor last year but was unable to attend the 2017 luncheon. Better late than never! Congratulations to Gunner Jim Kinne, who was selected as our chapter Gunner of the Year. Jim graciously assumed the luncheon organizing duties of our chapter secretary, Gunner Jim Krzyzanowski, who is still recovering from brain surgery. (Jim has been recovering nicely, for the most part, but it is a slow process. Relapses and complications are not uncommon. Please keep Jim in your thoughts and prayers!) A hearty hoowah and thank you goes out to Gunner Rick Sell, who once again designed an outstanding souvenir coin and commemorative art work. This year’s print depicts our entire souvenir coin collection, dating back to our very first luncheon in the year 2000.
We collected $300 in charitable donations that will be sent to Shepherd’s House, a shelter and recovery center that ministers to homeless veterans in our community.
In short, our 19th Annual St Barbara’s Day Celebration was another rousing success!
Best wishes to all for a blessed holiday season and a happy and prosperous 2019!
ROUNDS COMPLETE!
Scott McMeen
President
Fort Wayne Cannoneers

11/09/2018

Gunners! Our annual Saint Barbara's Day luncheon is coming up soon (Thursday, Dec 06th at 11:30 in the Raytheon Tech Center Board Room (a.k.a. the usual place). You should have received your invite from Gunner Kinne. Please respond with RSVP and meal selection ASAP, as space is limited. Look forward to seeing everyone there! TFOOL ULU!

04/30/2018

Gunners! I know several of you participated in the 2018 Race For the Warrior. I helped with setup on the day prior and posted photos to the Race of the Warrior 2018 Album. Please send photos and stories associated with this great event!

Mark Witte, Scott McMeen Kristal Grush, Tom McLaughlin (Mark Franke took the picture)
04/30/2018

Mark Witte, Scott McMeen Kristal Grush, Tom McLaughlin (Mark Franke took the picture)

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1010 Production Road
Fort Wayne, IN
46806

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