Wednesday, July 17, 2024 post by Greg Shipley on Facebook:
I was in Fort Wayne, Indiana, yesterday, to receive the 2024 "Legion of the United States" award, during that city's General Mad Anthony Wayne Day events. I'd been notified of this recognition, by the General "Mad" Anthony Wayne Organization, Inc, a few months ago. I was most honored to accept this award... on behalf of our Wayne's Legion Research Group, and I was pleased that many of my project colleagues, along with the Fleckenstein family (owners of the Ft Loramie site), had made the trip from Ohio to be there, also. Thank you, Judi Loomis (President of the General Mad Anthony Wayne Organization) and to everyone that took part in this Freimann Square celebration, which honors General Anthony Wayne, annually. Had it not been for the determined leadership that Anthony Wayne provided to those 1792~1796 era United States military forces, known as: "The Legion of the United States" (aka Wayne's Legion), during a time of intense difficulties with the native tribes of the Ohio region... made even more difficult by the meddling of the British government and the British North American Indian Department, an abrupt halt could have been dealt to the American settlement of the Northwest Territory and to America's westward expansion. General Wayne constructed the fort at this Three Rivers location, (today's Fort Wayne, Indiana), in 1794, so it is fitting that he should be recognized as the original founder of this American city. My thanks go out to the "Settlers" organization ladies, also, who arranged for me to present a program, on our Fort Loramie/Wayne's Legion projects, at their historic Swinney Homestead facility. While there, it was a pleasure to have another opportunity to speak with Alan Gaff, author of "Bayonets in the Wilderness - Anthony Wayne's Legion in the Old Northwest". I had a most enjoyable day!
