By Staff
Its officially called Scout Service Camp, but the printing on the breast of his green T-shirt identifies him as a member of the Governor's Honor Guard.
He credits Joe and Pat Rohacs, whose sons are both Eagle Scouts, with nudging him to achieve First Class. "You'll go to Mackinac and have a great time," the retired Dowagiac Scoutmaster encouraged him. "The first two summers I just didn't get around to it, and I'm mad now that I didn't. My first year I went with James Larson," also an Eagle Scout.
His first year consisted of three-hour guide shifts and park clean-up.
The "Avenue of Flags" by the fort contains eight banners representing different periods of control, much like Niles' four flags - white French, blue French, Canadian, American with 50 stars and 13 stars for the original colonies and the British, for example.
Then there's the ramp from Fort Street to the South Sally Port, or back entrance lined with flags. Each historical site flies a flag, such as the Dr. Beaumont Museum and the Biddle House, and signal flags and the American flags at the Visitor's Center on the waterfront.
Three different flags might be displayed at the main pole in Fort Mackinac, depending on the weather. When it's particularly windy, the smaller storm flag flaps. On better days, a mid-sized flag about 10 feet long flies.
They also raise the governor's flag, which at one time signaled Gov. William Milliken's presence. "I believe (Gov. John Engler) was the one who did away with people knowing when he was there," Eby said, and Gov. Jennifer Granholm very rarely is. He's never seen her, although "I've come across her family preparing for a tour. It's awkward. The view from her porch is the best on Mackinac Island," dwarfing the Grand Hotel.
The "governor's choice" room changes with each administration. Granholm uses the side porch overlooking the backyard for television. "They have a little basket of movies, including 'Austin Powers,' " he noticed.
Scouts the week before came from the Port Huron area.
His portable cannon, wedged in the fence posts so the recoil doesn't roll it backward, was donated by Gerald R. Ford Troop 290. It fires 10-gauge shotgun blanks.
The cannon fires again in the evening when flags are lowered.
It synchronizes the ceremonies over a wider area than the bugle can be heard.