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history of the Eagle Monument
At the conclusion of the COVID pandemic, Chief McMillan and his family adventured to Alaska for a cruise. The last stop on the trip -Sitka, Alaska. That's when Chief McMillan told the family he was taking a stroll. The family knew he had a habit of bringing back souvenirs when unsupervised, so they told him to walk and "don't come back with more stuff."
Chief McMillan walked several miles and stayed out of all the stores until one artist's shop caught his eye. He isn't sure what drew him in, but the moment he stepped inside, he was immediately captivated by this gorgeous Bald Eagle statue. Chief McMillan took a long look at it, and eventually, the shop owner said, "Do you see what is wrong with that Bald Eagle?" Chief McMillan replied, "It looks perfect to me!" The shop owner said that the statue had one thing wrong, "It couldn't be eaten." By that, he meant the pandemic had affected tourism so much in their small, remote town he was struggling to make ends meet.
Chief McMillan told him he had the perfect spot for the Bald Eagle statue in Indiana. He told the shop owner about the MAAC and his idea for the Bald Eagle statue - it would become a tribute to our first responders! The shop owner loved the idea! He made Chief a one-time offer, but there was one catch - he needed to wait to ship it until the store closed in November because the shop's front door had to be removed to get the Bald Eagle out of the building. The artist's enthusiasm ensured that Chief McMillan couldn't pass up this opportunity, and they immediately reached out and shook hands.
After the Bald Eagle arrived on the MAAC Campus, finding the right person to complete the tribute took some time. Two years later, the project is now complete thanks to Grace Byvoets - who was looking for a unique project to complete to reach Eagle Scout level with Scouts BSA. Chief McMillan was overjoyed as the Bald Eagle statue landed in its permanent resting spot. What began as a leisurely stroll during vacation turned into a tribute honoring the commitment and sacrifice of our first responders - a special way to pay homage to those who run towards danger to protect those they may never meet.
The Bald Eagle is one of our nation's emblems. This extraordinary bird's fierce beauty and independence aptly symbolize America's strength and freedom.