PFC Justin J. Kennie, son of Karen Kennie and Philip Stewart, lived in Westbrook, ME until he turned 11 years of age before moving to Cornish, ME – the town which he considered his home. PFC Kennie was struck by a motor vehicle on November 2, 2008 while crossing Interstate 81 in Watertown, NY. He was stationed at nearby Fort Drum.
Ever since he was a young boy, Justin wanted to be a soldier. Throughout high school, he was actively engaged as a member of the ROTC program. He achieved his dream soon after graduation when he enlisted into the U.S. Army. Justin is described by his closest friends and family as being an extremely high-spirited young man who loved to cook and play paintball. He was a selfless and passionate individual who always took the most optimistic outlook upon any situation. His mother, Karen Kennie, illustrates him best by his unyielding upbeat personality. “He was my day,” she says. “He was always smiling.” So much, in fact, that his Drill Sergeants’ named him “Skittles” during Basic Training.
Karen describes how before Justin passed, he hid a time capsule in the backyard of their home. This capsule is yet to be dug up, however, she looks forward to the opportunity of retrieving this capsule sometime in the near future. The capsule is buried in a strawberry patch which Justin made for his mother. The stone which will be carried forth within The Summit Project was retrieved from a rock wall which lay near this strawberry patch, just to the right of Justin in the picture above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YufqU76dFx8&rel=0
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It was an honor yesterday to carry the stone of Justin Kennie as part a Summit Project hike through the city of Portland. This hike, undertaken by 10 members The Army Cadets of America, did an urban version of a Summit Project by traversing the city from the Eastern Promenade to the Western Promenade and climbing the Portland Observatory and Franklin Towers as “summit” climbs.
You would be pleased to know that the heights afforded views of both Westbrook and Cornish, locals that Justin knew well.
As someone who can go from “0-60”, it was humbling to know that Justin had such a caring, friendly, and outgoing personality. I often reflected on this aspect during the trek, hoping that I might learn to acquire just a bit of Justin’s upbeat nature (Skittles!). I also found it striking how a photo of Justin had the very stone I was carrying in the background…a reminder that our time on this side is so short and it is people like Justin who make a difference. The thought of time came to mind, too, due to the time capsule Justin made and buried in the strawberry patch. I got to wondering what items he put in the capsule… Several years ago I went on a mission trip to Russia. A Russian emigre asked me to bring a box to her mother in Moscow. She carefully placed items in a shoebox trying to make them fit and I pondered, “How do you put love in a box…? I think love was one of the items that Justin tried to place in the time capsule but he found that it just would not fit. Instead, he would share it unconditionally with others…sharing his love for his country, his home, his family.
Growing up I would often hear the Beatles singing “Strawberry Fields Forever”. In the song, they sing
“It’s getting hard to be someone but it all works out…” No doubt Justin had his hard days but his perseverance made the difference. And just like Strawberry Fields, Justin Kennie will be forever. It will all work out…
THANK YOU for the honor of allowing me to share in your son’s life. Be strong…be safe in the knowledge that he is well.
I had the great honor of carrying Justin’s stone deep into the heart of Baxter State Park and to the summit of South Turner Mountain with my dear friends and fellow TSP volunteers. It was a picture perfect day and a challenging climb that yielded panoramic views of the entire Katahdin Basin.
Having viewed Karin’s (Justin’s mom) video, I was filled with joy and positive thoughts throughout the climb of this remarkable young man and the light he shared in a world so badly in need of optimism and kindness. As an Army Veteran, I can tell you how truly spectacular soldiers like Justin are in the service…they are unforgettable and indomitable in their spirits. I have met only a few such characters in 30+ years of service and know well the spirit that earned him the nickname “skittles” from his drill sergeants. A person like Justin changes the world around him to a better place and I can only trust my Faith in God that He had His reasons for taking him from us so early in his life. One thing is for sure, however, as we have lost so many of these remarkable men and women in the past 15 years and throughout our nation’s history, we will all see them all again One Fine Day. I greatly look forward to meeting Justin in the green fields of the Great Beyond.
In closing, I will thank him and his family for their service and sacrifice, and my hiking partner Catherine, for the blessing of our day together enjoying such an elevated purpose in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Rest peacefully, Justin, you are loved, missed and often remembered with humor and kindness. – Jack
One week ago I completed a very challenging hike, while very honorably carrying Justin’s stone. The perfect weather combined with the holiday weekend, the original plan to hike Katahdin took a different path. Disappointed at first, yes, but quickly changed the attitude around and decided to hike Double Top at Baxter State Park.
The hike was much more difficult than I expected. In spirit of Justin, I continued to stay positive despite the negative attitudes in my party. People like Justin are extremely special to have, with such a great attitude on life. He seemed to care so much about other people.
Towards the summit of the mountain I met up with others hikers who were unable to hike Katahdin. As we took the most challenging part of the hike on together, I shared the Summit Project and the information about Justin I learned from the video. I laughed so hard with strangers from Minnesota, California, Connecticut, and North Carolina. Justin’s infectious smile was with all of us.
It was a pleasure to share his story and honor someone who was here to make this world a better place. His memory still spread happiness and smiles to a few strangers on September 6, 2015. I want to thank the Summit Project and his family for allowing me to share his story.
To the family of PFC Justin Kennie,
My name is Grady A. Thurlow a member of the Maine Air National Guard and have been in the military for the past 29 years. It was an honor to carry the stone and memories of Justin during the annual TSP/ANP 2015.
As I arrived at Thompson Island I was filled with nervousness and anticipation of what lay ahead. This was my first involvement with a TSP hike and I was about to meet many people for the first time. People from all walks of life would come together for one common goal; to honor our fallen Maine Heroes. We were to form a team. We all joined for different reasons but we all had the same goal and that was to honor the memories and share the stories of Maine’s fallen heroes.
As our team met for the first time it reminded me a lot of basic training. I thought of Justin and the memories that all soldiers share of those first few days of basic training. As the days and weeks pass during basic, you learn how to become a team.
Our team boarded the bus that would take us to the bottom of the mountain at Kebo trail. This would also be our team name. I was asked to carry the American Flag that was given by Mr. & Mrs. Zimmerman, one of the Gold Star families. The flag was in honor of their son Lt. James Zimmerman whose stone I had the privilege of carrying a few months earlier.
As team Kebo prepared to start up the trail it began it rain. At first I wanted to complain but as Justin would have said, look on the bright side, it could be snowing. I thought about his great attitude toward facing hardship and adversity. As we climbed the trail, we all shared stories of our heroes. How their stories touched our lives, gave us strength, and showed us courage. As the rain stopped we got to see one of God’s greatest creations; the rainbow. Everyone spoke of how awesome it was and I thought of Justin and his nickname ”Skittles”. How Fitting! We made it to the top and were greeted by a group of Girl Scouts who provided us with cookies and coffee. I had the honor of taking Justin’s stone out of my bag and talking to the girls about him and share the reason why we were doing this event. I pointed out the website to them and hopefully they will read the stories of Maine’s Fallen Heroes. The highlight of my day was being able to spread the word about this great project, and to let you know that Justin will never be forgotten.
Our team gathered at the top of Cadillac Mountain. This is where we had a time of reflection and a time to share our feelings and stories of our individual heroes. After this we boarded our bus for the trip back to Thompson Island. There we transferred the stone we carried to the Gold Star Family’s or representatives. This was an emotional time but at the same time a feeling of mission accomplishment.
As we said our good byes and shared some refreshments, it again brought me back to Justin and the promise to stay in touch with his memory. I just want to let you know that I was so honored to be able to carry Justin’s stone and help make his memory live on.
MHANF
Grady A. Thurlow
To the family of Army PFC Justin J. Kennie: I had the honor and privilege to carry the stone of Army PFC Justin J. Kennie as part of The Summit Project hike at Baxter State Park on Sunday, May 29, 2016. There were some challenging conditions on the hike due to the rain, wind and cold weather. The challenging parts of the hike reminded me of how Justin would have handled the situation, with a smile. Justin is the type of person I would definitely gravitate towards. Justin’s selflessness, high-spirited nature and unyielding upbeat personality are traits to be admired. I will always remember how he always smiled no matter how challenging the situation, so much so that his Drill Sargent’s named him “Skittles”. I will take this memory and his personality with me forever. I have no doubt that Justin would have smiled for the entirety of the hike. I had the honor and privilege to place Justin’s stone at the top of Owl Peak at Baxter State Park. This was one of the most moving moments I have ever experienced and somewhere I have no doubt Justin was experiencing it and enjoying it as well. Justin’s character, his selflessness, his passion to become a soldier to serve his country and the optimistic outlook he always took in any situation in life will never be forgotten. Thank you for your service Justin. You were a truly remarkable young man and you will never be forgotten. You are still having an impact on us all. Your desire, character, selflessness and unyielding upbeat personality will be with us all forever. This world is a better place because of you and the impact you had.
To the family and friends of Justin,
Today Greg Johnson and I hiked up Table Rock Mountain in Maine with 44 children who all have a parent or sibling currently serving in the military. They carried 27 stones up the mountain today. Here is a letter from the campers that had the honor of carrying your hero.
We took your son’s stone up to Table Rock Mountain today. We had a really great experience with him and we got to know him and talked about him. His story inspired us to keep his story living on. We will always keep Justin in our hearts forever.
Love,
Brooke and Kiara
To the family and friends of Justin,
Today Angel Matson and I hiked up Table Rock Mountain in Maine with 30 children who all have a parent or sibling currently serving in the military. They carried 24 stones up the mountain today. Here is a letter from the campers that had the honor of carrying your hero.
“My experience with the Summit Project has been great. At first it was tough carrying a stone up the mountain but then I realized that it meant more than just an extra weight in my backpack. Hearing all of the stories was very inspirational.
Love, Lucas”
“Justin sounds like a really nice guy. It is cool that he wanted to be a soldier when he was younger and then got to be one!
Love, Caymen”
To the family of Justin Kennie,
I had the privilege of carrying Justin’s rock up Streaked. When I read about Justin, I felt very upset because I learned Justin died too young and he still had a lot of life left in him when he passed. Justin was a loving and caring person who was happy. He seemed like he liked to help people. I think Justin was like a fun person to be around whether it was hanging out playing paint ball or cooking. I think we would’ve gotten along.
I also read that Justin always wanted to be a soldier growing up and he was very involved in his ROTC program. Justin seemed like he was determined to serve his country. I really appreciate all that he sacrificed for our country. I also felt that his stone was very meaningful because it was something Justin spent time making and something that meant a lot to him and his family. I’m honored to be able to say I represented him at the top of the mountain because he was an outstanding young adult. Bringing his rock to the top made me realize that life is very precious and you should cherish every second because you never know what could happen next. Thank you for giving me the the opportunity to learn about Justin and share his memory at the top of streaked mountain.
Sincerely, Alex Landry
I had the honor of carrying Justin’s stone up Table Rock on July 10. We took a route that was a little more challenging than the one that I’ve taken previously, and there were times that I wanted to complain about the route and how tired I was. I thought about what Karen said regarding Justin’s upbeat and optimistic personality and tried to change my perspective, deciding that instead of complaining, I would find the positive aspects of the hike and encourage the rest of the group to keep climbing. Finding the ray of sunshine is so important in life, and being that ray of sunshine takes a special type of person, one like Justin. I’m betting that the time capsule, when dug up, will contain other examples of Justin’s sunshine. Thank you for sharing Justin with us so that he can continue to inspire.
Dear family of Justin,
I just finished hiking Table Rock Mountain with campers who all have a parent or sibling currently serving in the military. This is what two children had to say about carrying Justin
“Today was important to reflect upon because of the meaning it brings the family of the fallen reassurance that others care in a way that they would do something like the Summit Project. I would like Justin’s family to know that he is a hero, not just because he served, but how he carried himself throughout life.”
“Today during the hike I thought it was very difficult, and I wanted to stop and turn around. Carrying the heavy stone made me think the feeling at the top of the mountain would be worth it. At the top, I realized I pretty much carried Justin’s soul up the mountain, the feeling of realizing is indescribable.”
I would like to personally thank you for sharing your son and his life with us and others who take part in this amazing program.
I had the absolute honor and privilege to hike with the stone and story of Army Pfc Justin J. Kennie up Cadillac Mountain with The Summit Project on October 14th. Before our hike I spent time researching Justin and everything I learned came back to two things: Justin was a genuine and kind human being and he wanted to make this world a better place for himself and those he loved. Watching the video of his mother, Karen, I learned that Justin was a champion of the underdog. He would sit with the loners and talk with the outsiders. Justin made people feel included and important. He was a happy and positive person. My favorite part of the video was watching Karen’s face light up as she talked about Justin’s “infectious smile”. When we stopped at the Eagles Crag to take our stones out and wait for the photographer I took the time to sit quietly and think about how I would feel if my son came home from High School and announced he would be joining the Army. Karen was not happy that her son was enlisting, and I wonder how I would feel. I would be proud of his desire to make a difference, and I am sure I would also have fear and reservations. But a mother’s love is never ending and unconditional, so I would support my son like she did hers. As we were hiking the fog rolled in on the mountain and the wind picked up. It was a perfect opportunity to talk about Justin and and how he would have been the first one to say, “How about we all look on the bright side?” So, I pointed out the red bushes, and beautiful color in the trees across the valley below and each bird we heard. I know Justin would have found the beauty in the situation despite the weather and the cold wind. He would have loved how proud our flag flew in that strong wind! On our way to the summit, I thought about Justin’s goal to “make a better future for this great country” through his service. When we reached the summit I found myself focused on how Justin’s beautiful attitude and outlook on life had already made a better future. At such a young age, Justin saw the benefit of reaching out to one lost soul and how the whispers in a storm truly do make a difference. Justin knew the value of a grateful heart. He thanked his mother for all she did for him, and he tried to make her life brighter by cooking meals and planting a strawberry patch for her. He seized the day and made the most of the time he was given. His life was short but so bright and full of happiness. I will forever think of Justin when my son asks for Skittles and when we water our strawberry plant in the summer. Justin has left a legacy of love and happiness behind him and I am forever grateful to have been given the chance to share the hours we had on Cadillac Mountain together. ~ Joelle
“One hand reaches out and pulls a lost soul from harm
While a thousand more go unspoken for.
They say what good have you done by saving just this one?
It’s like whispering a prayer in the fury of a storm.”
~ The Change by Garth Brooks
For a period of 21 hours, on 16-17 December 2017, Justin’s stone was carried by members of Team ARMY (Unbreakable) in the Iceland Spartan Ultra 24hr World Championship race. The team was comprised of five US Army Soldiers, a mix of active duty, National Guard and retired; SGT (ret) Jonathan Lopez (team leader), MSG (ret) Jeff Farmer (asst team leader), 1SG Anthony Busko, CPT John Bryant, and CPT (ret) Daniel Stokes (me). The team covered a distance of 35+ miles, in arduous terrain, which included crossing rivers, and climbing steep frozen ridgelines, in extreme weather conditions. Justin’s stone was traded among our packs, about every seven miles, so we could each feel the burden of his loss, and the weight of his sacrifice. Justin would be proud to know that none of his fellow Soldiers shirked from the added weight of his tribute stone to our load, at a time when other racers were shedding every possible ounce in order to survive the ordeal. We carried Justin on our backs and felt the presence of his spirit throughout. Upon completion of the race, all four of the US military teams, all of whom carried a TSP stone representing their respective branch of service, conducted a circle ceremony. Because Army ALWAYS leads the way, we shared Justin’s story first, and I mentioned to the 30-40 people gathered how I met Justin’s wonderful mother Karen, and helped dig for his buried time capsule. It was an honor to take Justin and his story to Iceland. I am very happy that his legacy continues to be preserved. Thank you to Dave, Greg, Russ, and Andi for supporting this effort. MHANF! ~ Danny Stokes
As a mom myself, my heart immediately went out to Karen, the mother of the fallen solider who’s stone I had the honor to carry on September 29th, 2018. Listening to her describe the boy, who turned into a man and the qualities that he developed and the love she had for him was so evident in the stories Karen, Justin Kennie’s mom, had told.
In a world filled with so much negativity, it can be challenging for one to find reasons to be grateful and to smile. Justin seemed to understand that happiness came from within and contagiously shared his smile where ever he went. So much that he earned the nickname “Skittles” from his Drill Sargent. He was known as the underdog, who was always there for his friends and fellow soldiers providing encouraging words and a helping hand. His mom remembers how he was always lending a hand at home to help her whenever she needed. Including building her a strawberry garden at their home, where the stone carried in Justin’s honor came from.
It was a beautiful day for a hike this late September. The cool mornings required many layers, which could be quickly shed as we made our way up the mountain. Our group varied in abilities, from the young to the highly experienced. Our trail was a beautiful one, although it presented many challenges along the way including angles that when wet could be a bit demanding. Our group quickly supported each other, hand in hand, when needed , to cross these challenges. When our group reached the summit of Cadillac Mountain the sun was shining brightly, perhaps a smile shining down from Justin, as he was remembered through the team work and support our group developed to merge and finish this hike together. Similar to the way Justin looked out for his fellow friend and those in need.
“Don’t let the world change your smile, Let your smile change the world.” – Tony Robbins
Thank you for the honor of being part of such a wonderful mission and being able to share stories , such as Justin’s, so that our men and women who gave of themselves for our freedoms will always remain more than a number! May they and their families all find peace. <3
~Melanie
It was my honor to carry Justin’s stone to the top of Mount Agamenticus on the 14th of June, 2019. The optimistic spirit of Justin was with us that day. It was supposed to rain, but it turned out to be a breezy, sunny day. I cannot help but dwell on what I have I have done in a short 11 days since the hike. It makes me wonder what wonderful, thoughtful things that Justin could have accomplished in the 11 years since he has passed. He seemed to be a person that would do for others to make their days and lives better. His ability to put plans in action for the future is illustrated by his planting a strawberry patch for his Mom and completing a time capsule to be opened latter.
He demonstrated his strength and character by joining the Army during a time of war where the possibility of deployment was almost guaranteed. He did this because he was selfless. I imagine him supporting and encouraging his fellow Soldiers at boot camp, how else would he get a nick name of “Skittles”?
The world needs more Justin’s to make the lives of others better, to plan for the future and to take the lead. Justin, you will not be forgotten……..
I had the honor of carrying Justin’s stone on the TSP Acadia hike last weekend. My wife and I found out about the Summit Project because her brother was killed in action in Iraq and her parents have a stone for him. I have seen how terrible it can be for a parent to lose their child, as I’ve watched my father and mother-in-law over the past 14 years. Watching the video of Karen talk about how she didn’t want Justin to enlist, because like most moms, she feared the worst, I can understand, as a parent myself, her feelings. I realize nothing will bring Justin back, but I hope you find comfort in knowing that because of events like this, he will never be forgotten. As I hiked with his stone, and thought about the sadness of his loss, I also thought positively and pictured his jovial personality and the descriptions of him always smiling and keeping things positive. He may no longer be with us, but I imagine he is still smiling. He will continue to be remembered as his stone summits more peaks and travels to more events. His story will continue to make people smile and self reflect on how, like Justin, they can keep things positive and upbeat, even in challenging times.
May 30th, 2021 was my first experience with the Summit Project and I was privileged to carry the stone of PFC Justin J Kennie to the top of Peek-a-boo Mountain in Weston. My mission initially started with an attempt to summit Spruce Mountain in Brookton, Maine. I had been researching this mountain for the past year trying to find an actual trail to take to the top but had been unable to find one. I normally research every aspect of a hike before I head out and take a map on my phone and a paper copy in my bag and I religiously follow the blue hash marks. My first hike with The Summit Project seemed like a great opportunity to challenge myself and, with PFC Kennie’s memorial stone in my pack, we headed into the forest. We went down multiple four wheeler paths; some ending in a dead end, one that landed us at a beaver dam and several that became more and more narrow. We had a stand-off with a deer, saw loads of moose poop and, according to my GPS, were only going parallel to the summit. I’m not sure if it was my internal voice of reason or PFC Kennie dropping me a hint but “abort mission” kept popping in my head. I kept picturing Justin’s mom in her video for the Summit Project saying he was always smiling and positive so, instead of getting frustrated that I couldn’t summit Spruce Mountain, I decided to view it as “every hike is a good hike” and head back to the car.
Regardless, PFC Kennie was getting his summit one way or the other so we headed into Plan B! We headed a few towns over and decided to summit Peek-A-Boo Mountain in Weston, Maine. There is a service trail to the top of this to access a cell phone tower but that would be cheating so, with PFC Kennie’s stone in my pack once again, we headed to the summit. I was still beating myself up for not finding our first summit but I was determined to stay positive for our final ascent. I focused on the information I researched about PFC Kennie and replayed his mom’s video in my mind. You could hear how proud she was of him and what a shining light he was in her life. Before I knew it, we were at the summit and climbing the old Fire Tower. The Summit Project is usually held live in Baxter State Park on Memorial Day weekend when there isn’t a Pandemic happening so it was pretty fitting that the Fire Tower offered us a great view of Katahdin and her neighboring mountains. Got some great photos of PFC Kennie’s stone at the top of the Fire tower with Katahdin in the background. Jogging back down the mountain, smiling at what an eventful morning we had, I couldn’t help but think that, while we might not always reach our intended destination, life is always worth the trip. Thank you PFC Kennie for your service and to all those that have given their life for this country and our freedom. #MHANF
PFC Justin is my cousin. I joined the US Army in 2014 because of him, recently I’ve been thinking of him because of where I’m at in the world, currently deployed to the Middle East with the 86 IBCT. I thank all of you for honoring him and who he is. The last time I saw Justin was when he came home after graduating basic training. I still remember the day I heard the news. It’s a tragedy but I know deep inside that he’s happy where he is. Hearing the stories and comments of his drill Sgt’s calling him skittles sent a chill down my spine because when I graduated basic training and got to my unit they gave me the nickname “skittles”. I’m now SGT Sekenski aka “skittles” to most of my friends. They tell me all the time how optimistic I am, including my wife because there’s a saying that I always use. Regardless of the situation, how hot it is or how crappy of a task we’re assigned. “It could always be worse” because I know deep down inside that there is always someone somewhere else that has it worse. We can only be thankful for what we have in our life.
Since Justin’s dad’s passing Philip (my uncle), my grandfather had Justin’s flag. Recently he’s fallen ill and gifted me Justin’s flag and because of these stories I will pass down the memories within the family and be proud to hold the nickname “skittles”.
I can only thank you all so much. It’s relieving knowing that Justin hasn’t been forgotten.
On September 25, 2021, I had the honor and privilege of carrying the stone and story of PFC Justin Kennie for a second time this year during the TSP Acadia event. This was my first in-person TSP event and what an amazing experience it was! Being able to share Justin’s story in the sacred circle was an incredible honor. Similar to my hike in May with PFC Kennie’s stone, this hike also threw us some curveballs. We were unable to hike our projected route due to the potential of lightening so our hike up Cadillac Mountain morphed into a shorter hike to Echo Lake. My inclination was to be a little disappointed at the change of plans and lack of summit, but I kept running Justin’s video over in my head and how his mother described him as always positive and looking on the bright side of everything. The day was gloomy and rainy but for a brief moment during the sacred circle when we were all sharing our soldier’s stories, the sun came out and shone brightly…..I would like to think that was Justin shining down to let us know there is always a bright side. Thank you PFC Justin Kennie for your sacrifice. You will never be forgotten. #MHANF
I had the honor to carry the stone and the story of PFC Justin Kennie up Cadillac Mountain in Acadia this past weekend. This was my fourth Acadia hike with TSP. I am a Gold Star Sister and proud to be able to participate with The Summit Project to learn the stories of Maine’s fallen heroes.
I truly loved learning about Justin. His positive energy and smile are surely missed. As a mother of two sons, I could relate to Justin’s mother saying that she wasn’t excited about Justin joining the army, although being proud of his choice. I can clearly remember talking to my mother when my brother finally turned 18 and joined the reserve while he was attending college. She knew that was what he wanted to do, but couldn’t help but worry.
Thinking about Justin’s smile and energy, it was easy to be positive and not worry much about the potentially bad, windy weather that was predicted for Saturday. Usually I might have been a little more worried, but it seemed easy to let it go and encourage others not to worry (which it was in the end, a little windy, but a great day). I shared some of the fun things I learned about Justin, his love of paintball and cooking, his time capsule story, and his sunny personality. I will hold on to his spirit of positive thinking. Like the other heroes whose stories I have carried, I will continue to remember them as I go on future hikes and continue to carry Justin’s story with me. Thank you for sharing Justin’s memory.