Community News

Honors awarded at historical exhibit and cannon dedication

PARKERSBURG - The Capt. James Neal Chapter of the West Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution has honored two late local craftsmen, Kevin Britton and Waide Mills.

Chapter members wearing colonial attire presented posthumous Bronze Good Citizenship Medals to Britton and Mills on Oct. 24 following its Flintlock Exhibit Luncheon at the Western Sizzlin Restaurant on Neal Run Boulevard.

The medal is awarded by the SAR to recognize individuals for noteworthy achievement in promoting education, history and patriotism and features the inscription: “Our inspiration is from the past, our duty is in the present, our hope is in the future.”

Troy Haynes also was honored at the event, receiving the SAR Outstanding Citizenship Pin that recognizes individuals for high ideals of character and citizenship. The presentations were followed by a formal musket salute.

The restaurant program featured a display of historic pioneer weaponry built as a hobby by Mills, who died this year, a Parkersburg area sheet metal worker who crafted roughly 20 guns during his lifetime. Lorne Mills spoke on behalf of his late father, showcasing Waide Mills’ custom-made wood stocks, engraved German Silver inlay flintlocks and handmade powder horns.

A presentation also was made on a recently acquired replica of an 1841 Mountain Howitzer cannon, built by Britton, a Washington, W.Va., carpenter and house flipper who passed away in 2022. Brian Dowler spoke on behalf of Britton, who was his brother-in-law.

Dowler said Britton initially started with a small hobby cannon before purchasing a full-sized howitzer barrel to build the historical reproduction from scratch. Before his death, Britton gave the completed cannon to Troy Haynes, a Washington resident and concrete installation contractor.

Haynes donated the artillery piece to the local WVSSAR chapter.

“This donation gives our chapter a major asset for public education,” said Brent Sams, historian for the Captain James Neal Chapter. “Having Waide's detailed flintlocks on display and Kevin's howitzer added to our chapter inventory gives people a direct link to early American history.”

Following the restaurant program, the chapter’s CJN Cannon Brigade and attendees moved to the residence of Haynes on nearby Mockingbird Lane. The 1841 Mountain Howitzer replica was unveiled there for a ceremonial test firing. Under the supervision of a cannon expert, the artillery piece successfully completed the test.

“Kevin and Waide both put years of hard work into these pieces, and you can see that skill when you look at the details,” Sams said. “The test firing at Troy’s home went off without a hitch, and everyone there was pleased to hear the cannon in all its glory. We are very grateful for Troy’s generosity.”

The WVSSAR is a genealogical society rather than a reenactment group, requiring all members to trace their lineage directly to an American Revolutionary War patriot. The organization uses historical pieces like the newly dedicated howitzer replica to fulfill its mission of promoting history, education, and patriotism. While the chapter focuses heavily on the Revolutionary War period, including searching for and marking the graves of Revolutionary War veterans, members also participate in events that highlight other eras of American history, such as the Civil War.

Interested parties can find more information on the chapter’s Facebook Group for community event updates.