Maine Army National Guard Sgt. Richard K Parker was born on December 9, 1980. He was KIA in Iraq on June 14, 2007 during his second tour overseas.
In the military is where Richard found his place in the world. He found his purpose in life there with his brothers in arms. He was a young man who enjoyed adventuring in the great outdoors, including fishing trips with his friends. He loved animals and had much compassion for them. He also loved adventuring into the books he read. His favorite books to read were fantasy novels. He could read through a book faster than the biggest book enthusiast. As an adult, he still loved to watch cartoons. He was playful and always loved getting under people’s skin, including his sisters, just for the fun of it. He collected dragons, wizards, coins, stamps, and rocks. He had a son, Keegan, who was born while he was in Iraq on his second tour. Unfortunately, the two never got to meet, but Keegan has many of Richard’s mannerisms. Richard lives on in him.
Richard’s stone was found by his sister in a small brook next to the house where they all grew up and played as kids.
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Honoring my brother by carrying his stone on the hike to rainbow loop with TSP was an emotional, but uplifting experience. Richard loved the outdoors, often exploring and sometimes finding himself lost in the forest. He had a deep respect for all living things. Being in the forest, respecting nature and keeping all wild plants intact was rewarding for me as I felt like I was honoring his respect for living things. I felt as though he was there wandering the forest with me as I carried his stone. He often loved to tease me and try to get under my skin as a child and adult. I felt like he was there saying “you can’t carry that heavy stone all the way through the forest.” That gave me the push to continue hiking even when I was tired and aching. Although, I was tired and aching I knew that this was nothing compared to what he experienced while fighting for our freedom.
Dear Megan and family, I can’t tell you what an honor it was to escort Richards stone from Portland to Millinocket for TSP’s BSP event. The TSP family never ceases to amaze with with their dedication and commitment to Maines fallen and their families. Megan, it was an honor to meet you and to be able to present Richards stone to you prior to your hike. Special again, to run into you at breakfast on Memorial day as things wound down. I learned a lot about Richard and the kind of person he was. I pray that more young men can learn the values and dedication that Richard had. Very rare qualities. I will be forever grateful to Richard and to you for your sacrifice. I hope that I will be seeing you again at future TSP events. Rest assured, Richard’s stone and story will be forever told by volunteers and others. He will always be remembered, respected and honored. MHANF. Thank you and God bless
I had the honor and great pleasure of carrying the stone of Richard Parker. You never know how truly you are blessed until you get the chance to show support for a person who has done amazing things for this country. Richard was a lot like myself, which made the connection even more special. I also love the outdoors. Richard would find himself spending a good amount of time exploring the wildlife without a care in the world. During this hike I gave it all I had to make it up the mountain without complaining cause I know Richard had the heart to stand up for our country without complaining and showed true heart and his motivation kept me going. Beyond blessed to get to know Richard’s story and will always be an amazing memory that I’ll never forget. Thank you for the experience!
It was another great hike with TSP honoring my brother and all the other fallen soliders that sacrificed their lives. Both times I have hiked with TSP, I have felt my brother with me. He had a dry sense of humor, and loved to get under my skin when he could. I know he was there with me saying, “you can’t finish this hike” and then saying, “see I knew you could do it” when I did finish. I feel like I am connected with him hiking in the woods, doing something we both enjoy. I only wish we had more time together as adults to enjoy hiking.
Thank you for allowing me to honor Richard’s memory by carrying his stone up Double Top Mountain at Baxter State Park. This was my first hike with TSP. I felt as though he was on top of the mountain with us as we were sharing stories of the fallen soldiers. I also felt that Nanny Dawn and his Mom were there with me as we walked through the woods. Megan thank you for teaching me a few more things about TSP sharing your stories of your brother and the memories you have of him. Aunt Nancy, I’m grateful for your words that you shared with me about him making the ultimate sacrifice and him wanting to join the Army. This was truly an incredible experience and a humble one. It made me reflect truly what Memorial Day is all about. Words can’t express how this experience has impacted me. Richard you will always be remembered!!
For the Family of Richard Parker,
Thank you for trusting me with the responsibility of continuing Sgt. Richard Parker’s legacy. I had the privilege and honor of carrying his stone and story on the 2024 hike up Cadillac Mountain’s South Ridge Trail at TSP’s Acadia National Park event. This was my second hike honoring our Maine heroes. I was very moved learning about what a great young man Richard was and how he was loved by so many. But what moved me the most and crippled my heart, stopping my ability to research deeper into this great hero was when I read how Richard never got to meet his son Keegan. If my heart ached, I could only imagine how you, his family must feel. But I want to thank you from the bottom of my soul for sharing Richard’s and your stories with TSP so we can honor him and your family. In doing so, I hope that your loss is divided and lessened each time Richard’s greatness is remembered and shared. I didn’t get to meet you this time around but hope to have the privilege in the future to meet you and to meet his son Keegan, who you say resembles his dad, Sgt. Richard Parker. Love and Prayers, Emily M. Leonard
Thank you for the honor and privilege of carrying Richard’s stone. His story weighed heavily on my heart throughout the journey to Baxter. I hope Keegan knows that his dad is a true American hero. As we rolled into Baxter, I hoped that Richard somehow was sharing in the beauty and majesty of such untouched land. I am sure he would have been in search of a fishing pole to make a few casts off the point. Maybe we would have sat around a campfire sharing good books and stories. I can’t express enough my gratitude for his service. I will continue to carry his story, and each Memorial Day, I will pause to remember the story of his life. Maine should be honored to call him one of our own. I wish his family and friends continued healing and peace, knowing that Richard’s story will live on through this amazing project.
To the Family of Sgt. Richard K. Parker,
My name is Jenna Andrews, and on Saturday, June 21st, I had the profound honor of carrying Sgt. Richard K. Parker’s stone as I climbed Mount Pierce in New Hampshire, as part of The Summit Project.
Before meeting Greg Johnson at a military conference this year, I had never heard of this powerful tribute. I work for the state in a different field, and I am not from a military family, aside from my grandfather who served in the Italian Army. He rarely spoke about those years, so I grew up with a limited understanding of military life and sacrifice. But from the moment I heard Greg speak about the Summit Project—his conviction, his passion—I was deeply moved. When he invited me to join the Mount Pierce hike, I was honored. And I knew I couldn’t say no.
On the morning of the hike, I was handed Sgt. Parker’s stone. As soon as I held it, I noticed the shape and the weight. I’ve been a rock collector since I was a child—it’s my way of finding grounding and meaning in the natural world. The night before the hike, I read Sgt. Parker’s bio, and it stopped me in my tracks. His love for rocks, coins, dragons, fantasy novels, animals—those are parts of me, too. As Greg said, these stones often find the right person. And that connection hit me hard. I didn’t know Sgt. Parker personally, but in those moments, I felt as if I had been gifted the chance to walk beside the spirit of someone I could have called a friend.
I’m not an avid hiker—far from it. I’m an Italian-American from Dorchester, Massachusetts. My outdoor experience has mostly been walking trails with my dog. But that morning, I was determined. About two miles in, though, I hit a wall. My legs were giving out, my spirit fading. My mind kept telling me to give up—but I just couldn’t. I knew I had to continue. If it weren’t for the amazing team I was with, along with the responsibility and honor of carrying Sgt. Parker’s memory, I don’t know if I could have made it. I couldn’t let Sgt. Parker down. I had to make it. And I did. Because I had to.
When I reached the summit, I looked out at the vast, beautiful world around me and felt an overwhelming mix of exhaustion, pride, and reverence. During the ceremony Greg held at the top, we each shared stories about the heroes we carried. I spoke of Richard—not as a name on a stone, but as a person whose life I had come to know and admire in such a short but meaningful time.
To Sgt. Parker’s family: Thank you. Thank you for entrusting me with his memory. I carried much more than a stone that day—I carried the legacy of a brave, playful, compassionate, and beautifully human soul. I will never forget him. The sacrifice your family has made, and continues to carry, is something I will honor for the rest of my life. I may not have known him, but for a day, I felt like I did—and I will carry that with me always.
With deepest respect and gratitude,
Jenna Andrews
To the loved ones of Sgt. Richard K Parker,
On September 20, 2025, I had the honor and privilege of carrying your soldier, Sgt. Richard K. Parker’s stone up Cadillac Mtn. The stone weighed heavy in my pack, but I knew it could never compare to the weight of the sacrifice he made, or to the weight your family has carried in his absence.
We were graced with the most perfect weather that day! The hike itself was challenging but rewarded us with the most amazing views of the surrounding mountains and ocean. Every step was met with encouragement and a sense of unity among people who had never met before. Carrying Sgt. Parker’s stone reminded me that we were climbing not just for ourselves but to keep alive the memory of those who gave everything.
I never had the privilege of knowing Sgt. Parker personally, but I felt truly honored to be able to share his story. He was a true American hero, and I hope Keegan always carries pride in the legacy his father left behind.
This experience will stay with me always. Thank you for sharing him with all of us.
#MHANF