A story in the most recent issue of The Beacon, the official publication of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, (GLLKA), has apparently confirmed the recent rumors that the Michigan based lighthouse preservation group would like to take over Maine’s Boon Island Lighthouse and perhaps move it to Michigan.
Although the fall issue of the Beacon claims that all GLLKA wants to do is take the island back for the United States of America from the secessionist Republic of Boon Island; confirmed sources now report that wanabee lighthouse commandos of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keeper’s Association (GLLKA) under the leadership of rogue retired Admiral of the Air Force, Dick Moehl, who is also president of GLLKA, have been secretly planning an invasion of Maine’s Boon Island Light. Their plans call for the seizure of the lighthouse from the newly established Republic of Boon Island, which declared its independence on April 1 of this year.
Tim Harrison, Regent Lord Master of the Republic of Boon Island is definitely worried. “Our informants have told us that GLLKA wants to move the lighthouse to Michigan where it would become a popular tourist attraction in Mackinaw City. We must not allow the tallest lighthouse on the Maine and New Hampshire coast to be moved to the Great Lakes! This would be a disgrace to all New Englanders.”
Informed military sources at nearby Fort McClary have stated that GLLKA members have been secretly amassing field representatives in and around the communities of York, Kittery and Portsmouth to plan for this future takeover. But under the law, there is nothing they can do to stop them.
Harrison said he contacted public officials in the nearby communities with a request for a shipment of supplies to fight off the possible invasion force, but his requests have not been answered. “This doesn’t surprise me,” said Harrison, who went on to say, “That’s why we seceded in the first place. None of those towns ever lifted a finger to help Boon Island in the past.”
Harrison said the he feels that, “Those Michigan lighthouse people must think we are weak because we have not been able to convince enough people to buy citizenships in the Republic of Boon Island. After all, they never have trouble raising money in Michigan to save lighthouses and if we can’t save this one, they figure plain and simple that they deserve to own it and move it to Michigan!”
Harrison must know what he’s talking about. Informed sources in New York State believe that International Chimney Company, the firm that recently moved Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in America, have been contacted by GLLKA and asked for a feasibility study on moving the lighthouse from the island to the mainland and then halfway across the nation to Michigan. “That idea is not that far fetched,” said Harrison. “ For example, recently the governor of Alabama has asked his state legislature for the necessary funds to move their Sand Island Lighthouse, nearly the same height as Boon Island Light, from four miles out in the ocean to the mainland by stuffing it with Styrofoam and floating it to land. If that was done with Boon Island, the rest of the move to Michigan would be easy.”
The only way that Harrison feels that the Great Lakes lighthouse people can be stopped is to have more people buy citizenships in the Republic of Boon Island. “Once we have more citizens, we might be able to restore and save the lighthouse. But if people don’t join us, those folks in Michigan will think no one really cares and they’ll come and take our lighthouse,” said Harrison.
He continued by saying, “Citizenship papers in the Republic of Boon Island would make a great Christmas gift. After all, how many ties or scarves can you buy for someone! But, when you buy them a full citizenship in the Republic of Boon Island for only $25, now that’s a Christmas gift! ” said the self declared Regent of Boon Island.
Harrison may be right. The citizenship comes with a beautiful certificate, ready for framing and display in any home or office, an official passport, a CD-Rom on the republic and history of the island, a library card, and, if they ever get any stores on the island, new citizens are also given Boon Island Boonies, the official currency of the republic. Plus, once you are a citizen you can bribe your way into just about any political office you want; they’re all for sale, at the right price.
This may all be in jest, but according to Harrison, it’s the perfect way to raise public awareness and money for lighthouse preservation. If you are interested in purchasing a citizenship in the Republic of Boon Island you can call the American Lighthouse Foundation at 207-646-0245 or go to their web site at
www.LighthouseFoundation.org and then click on Republic of Boon Island and then citizenship. And, within a few days you’ll have the documents in your hands and you can help save the Boon Island Lighthouse from being moved to Michigan.
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