STATE — The Summit Project will embark on a tribute trek in Maine to honor the state’s fallen heroes with a novel living memorial during Memorial Weekend, May 23-25. The Summit Project, a nonprofit organization paying tribute to heroes through action, will bring together more than 150 Patriot Rider Motorcyclists who will travel more than 200 miles to transport over 55 tribute stones and relay them to three teams of 12 hikers. The stones will be accompanied by Maine’s first lady Anne LePage and escorted by Maine State Police.
Surviving families of Maine’s post 9-11 fallen military service members have unearthed and donated stones that uniquely represent their loved ones. Volunteers from throughout Maine and across the country, worked to discover the lives of those heroes and then carry their stones and their stories on various treks, literally shouldering the burden of the families of the fallen.
On Memorial Day, three hiking teams will summit Owl Peak on Baxter State Park. Together with more than 30 Gold Star family members they will celebrate a weekend of fellowship, healing and remembrance along the shores of Millinocket Lake, at Twin Pines Campground in Millinocket, against the backdrop of Katahdin.
“We are encouraged by the outpouring of support from all over Maine, for our second annual signature event. There is no better way to celebrate Memorial Day than through this living memorial. The Summit Project is unique in that we’re encouraging a physical as well as emotional connection between the fallen, the families and the living faithful. Our hiking teams will recognize the burden shouldered by our brave Maine service members and their families. By literally and figuratively lifting each other up to higher places, we can see how The Summit Project inspires service, strengthens communities and changes lives. We are looking forward to another great event this year.,” said Marine Maj. David J. Cote, founder of The Summit Project
Hikers include parents and siblings of Maine’s fallen heroes. Many hikers are returning veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other hikers are teachers, small business owners, law enforcement officers, students and citizens from Maine.
Hikers are assigned a specific fallen hero they will honor by carrying his or her tribute stone, learning about that veteran’s service and sacrifice.
For information, go to thesummitproject.org.