Lodge #12 members attend “29 Bells” ceremony to honor Fitz on 50th anniversary

On November 10, members of ISMA Twin Ports Lodge #12 attended the “29 Bells” event hosted jointly by ISMA Milwaukee Lodge #6 and the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society. The event, which was staged at the Cooperage near Milwaukee Harbor, paid tribute to the 29 men lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald 50 years earlier on November 10, 1975.

29 Bells featured plenty of Edmund Fitzgerald memorbilia, four guest speakers, great food, and a bell ringing ceremony with all the names called out for those lost on the Fitz.

One of the speakers was Twin Ports Lodge #12 member Capt. Shawn McKenzie, who was assigned to the USCG tug Naugatuck in Sault St. Marie in the fall of 1975. McKenzie recalled his experiences searching the area after the Fitz was lost.

The Milwaukee Lodge #6 members who were involved in organizing ths event did an exceptional job in all aspects of planning. The event was sold out with 250 attendees.

(L to R) Captain Shawn McKenzie (Twin Ports Lodge #12 Secretary/Treasurer), Captain Joe Walters (Twin Ports Lodge #12 President & Past Grand Lodge President), & Captain Chris Edyvean (Grand Lodge First Vice President).

2025 Fit-Out Dinner

The winners of ISMA Lodge #12’s freighter trip were drawn at the Fit-Out Dinner on March 12th.

The grand prize (trip for four aboard the Edwin H. Gott) was won by Megen Cairns of South Haven, MI.

The second prize (round trip for two on the carferry Badger) was won by Keely Couillard of Rochester, MN.

The third prize (round trip for two on the car ferry Lake Express) was won by LaVerne Ellis of Eli, MN.

Lodge #12 sincerely thanks everyone who purchased tickets. In addition, we wholeheartedly extend our appreciation to the shipping companies who donated these trips!

(Left) Captain Shawn McKenzie and Captain Joe Walters (R) prepare for the raffle drawing, with Mike Peterson (L) of Great Lakes Fleet/Key Lakes to draw the ticket.