Exceeding percentages that nationwide sit at four percent, the Mills family has three Eagle Scouts out of three sons.
Jim and Marilyn Mills' youngest child, Cameron, was honored Saturday in an Eagle Scout Court of Honor held at the Lake Ann United Methodist Church. After years of scouting events, trips and campouts, the three boys, including Nathan and Josh, both in college, achieved the highest ranking possible in scouting. One that a fraction of other scouts ever reach.
"I'm very proud of them,” said Marilyn Mills.
Jim Mills, the scout leader of Troop 105 based at the church, made it through his third and final Eagle Scout ceremony with mostly dry eyes as he watched his sons and other troop members complete the intricate ceremony. From the invocation to the closing "Taps” and retiring of the colors, members of the troop or adults involved completed every step with solemnity — with an occasional dash of subdued humor a la Cameron.
"Being the youngest of three scouts, there was never any doubt he was going to be a scout,” said Mills of Cameron, a sophomore at Traverse City West Senior High School who achieved the badge in August. "He was always begging to go along with his older brothers.”
As the years passed and Cameron rose through the ranks of cubs, wolves, bears and then the levels of Boy Scouts, Cameron knew he wanted to be an Eagle Scout like his older brothers.
"It was a given that I wanted to be an Eagle,” he said, adding with a mild brotherly gibe: "Most times, they've been good role models.”
Cameron acknowledged his parents for their assistance and support during the intense year-long quest, giving his dad extra kudos for guidance and motivation throughout the Eagle Scout process.
"He's always been there for me, kicked me in the butt — which last year has been a lot,” said Cameron. "He has shaped me into the scout and the man I am today.”
Cameron's Eagle Scout project was to install a flagpole in Brunett Park, which is across the street from the troop's weekly meeting place. He led the pop can drives and other fund raising efforts as well as assembled a work crew the put up the flagpole last fall and finished it in the spring of 2007. It was dedicated this summer during a ceremony opening the annual Lake Ann Homecoming events held the first Saturday in July.
"During the last Homecoming, 06, I noticed that they didn't have a flagpole they could use,” said Cameron.
He also earned countless badges and completed interviews with a committee who evaluated him as a scout as well as his project. John Morse of Honor, the Eagle Advancement Chairman for the area, noted that the process to achieve Eagle rank has many steps and requires hours of work, planning, organizing and leadership.
"These young men are the future leaders of the world: leaders aren't born, leaders are taught,” said Morse, who has two Eagle Scout sons and an Eagle Scout brother. "I see the cream of the crop, it's so refreshing and gives me such a positive outlook on the future.”
Dan Hahn, whose son, Sage, achieved Eagle Scout rank in 2006, praised Jim Mills for his dedication to the program. Five scouts in the relatively new troop, which has 21 members, have become Eagles in the past two years.
"My son made Eagle and he never would have without Jim,” said Hahn. "I always said he's the epitome of a scout master because he'll give the shirt off his back to help someone make Eagle.”