Letter: Mikel Swinton’s full due on Water Festival

In recent articles about Mikel Swinton, you have used “over 30 years” as a time reference for his volunteerism with the Beaufort Water Festival. It would be more accurate to say, “possibly over 40 years.”

In 1977, as a major at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, I was assigned to be the military liaison to the Water Festival. Mikel was there, which puts his service at 39 years at least. I volunteered for the liaison job in 1978. It was just so heartwarming to be part of an organization that, on a shoestring budget, could bring so much joy to so many people.

The next year was the first that the festival was held in the new Waterfront Park. Owen Hand was commodore and I was newly retired. Owen asked me to be his facilities chairman.

During previous festivals the city Public Works Department provided the labor. I said, “No, this is a volunteer effort and I’m not using taxpayer money. I’ll line up my own helpers.” And that’s what I did, except every time I called on my friends, no one was available. At this point, with the festival underway, it was too late to get Public Works. That left me, Mikel and another young man from the Port Royal home. Mikel and I put our heads together and together came up with a plan whereby we three could get the job done.

In great part, Mikel Swinton saved the 24th Annual Water Festival.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 5:07 PM with the headline "Letter: Mikel Swinton’s full due on Water Festival."