25, of Casco, Maine; died March 28 in North Kabul, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered during a non-combat-related vehicle accident in North Kabul March 28, 2007. Also killed was Spc. Agustin Gutierrez.
To honor SGT Edmund W. McDonald, his mother, Mrs. Kathy McDonald and his brother, Shayne McDonald retrieved this stone from a hillside near their home in Westbrook, Maine where there are spectacular views of Mt. Washington, Sebago Lake and the White mountains.
Watch this video to learn why this stone is significant and what it says about SGT Edmund W. McDonald.
33 Comments
My wife, Joyce and I, were honored and priveliged to carry the memory of Sgt Ed Macdonald on a leg of his journey to The mountain. It was an experience we will cherish forever. We hope these acts of memorializing the men ad women who have made the ultimate sacrifice will help keep their memory alive.
Thank you David and Joyce! Thank you for taking this beautiful hike with my brother’s rock.
I should clarify, Joyce and I are Patriot Riders and carried Sgt McDonald on a leg of the trip to The lodge. The hikers did the hard part. My apologies for the miscommunication. Again, we are blessed to have been a part of the Summit Project.
I had the privilege of carry the stone to the top. I am honored and humbled to be apart of this. As a Marine veteran, I find it important to remember and honor, not only the fallen, but the family and friends that have to live with the memory of their hero. As a Veteran I feel like there is apart of me representing their loved one, due to having served, regardless of branch. We all have a bond that is shared and should be carried on by few. It was funny when we got back and I gave the stone back to Kathy and Shayne, they asked if he had behaved. I replied, that he was with the wrong person to “behave”, but we did have a good time and he was in good hands. This whole experience has stuck with me since Memorial Day weekend. Take care and God bless, Mike O.
It was an honor to carry Sgt. McDonald’s stone to the top of Cadillac Mt. By far one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. I will never forget Sgt. McDonald and intend to carry his stone again. It is my hope that in my small way, I have honored him and his family.
Summit Project Final Essay
By: Daniel Genness
I am a history teacher at Lawrence Junior High School so I like to relate the present and the past. During World War I and II, Americans had to make sacrifices. People grew victory gardens, recycled useable materials, and purchased food with ration booklets. Americans came together, in a spirit of both sacrifice and patriotism, to support our soldiers fighting in Europe and Asia.
The primary reason why I volunteered to participate with the Summit Project was to, in a small way, sacrifice for the soldiers and families of our current veterans. Furthermore, I wanted to help preserve the memories of our servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms we, oftentimes, unfortunately take for granted.
It was an honor to hike Cadillac Mountain in honor of Sgt. Edmund McDonald. I was shocked by the number of interests we had in common. It made me realize some people make the ultimate sacrifice so I may live my life in peace. Moreover, for the first time, I thought about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq on a personal level rather than an intellectual challenge. It was hard to have strong feelings about wars that only effected what I watched on the news. Personal connections are always more power.
The most intensel moment was neither hiking the mountain nor the ceremony at the top of Cadillac Mountain. It was meeting Sgt. McDonaldâs parents. For the first time, the realities soldiers and military families live with, for me, became a small reality. I really did not know what to say. It was an honor to have met Sgt. McDonaldâs parents.
My intention is to honor Sgt. McDonald every Veteransâ Day with my 7th and 8th grade social studies classes. Furthermore, I intend to hike and work in his honor at future Summit Project events. In short, as long as I live, Sgt. McDonald will never be forgotten.
As I was hiking the mountain, Iâll admit I was selfish at first. I had a work dilemma that morning that I was overly concerned with. I regret that. However, as I continued to climb up the mountain I began to remember Edmund and all I had learned about him. I remembered how he loved music and cooking, and how he always used to say he would move to Canada if the draft was ever reenacted. To remember these things was refreshing to me. It was a reminder that this wasnât just any old hike. I was carrying the memory of someone who fought for me and my country â someone who lived only minutes from me. I could relate to this man. I began to celebrate his life in my mind.
As you climb the mountain, the weight of your pack, where you carry the stone, begins to feel heavier. You start to really feel the person youâre carrying and the actual weight they had carried on their shoulders at one time. It serves as a reminder: âHey, Iâm here. Iâm the reason youâre climbing this mountain. I carried a weight much heavier than this. Remember?â
As expected, reaching the summit was probably one of the best feelings of the hike. To reach the top and look out and see how far you have come in such a short time is incredible â but it also makes you realize that what you have just achieved is so minuscule compared to what the soldier in your pack had accomplished. In a matter of hours you can carry his memory up a mountain. It took him months or years to do what he had done for our country. It really puts it into perspective.
Participating in The Summit Project was such an honor. I cannot wait to keep in touch with Kathy and maybe learn more about her son and the rest of her family. I also hope to come back and hike again in the future. I really believe I have honored someone who deserves it and I hope to get more people involved in the future.
I stood at the base of Bradbury Mountain holding Sgt. Edmund McDonald’s stone, selfishly wanting to go do the hike another day, because it was freezing and snowing. Regardless of what I was thinking, we began the hike and I had to tell myself why I was doing this, not for myself, but to honor this fallen soldier, who had risked his life for American interests. I thought about all I had learned about Edmund, and how I related to some of his hobbies and interests. Although I couldn’t find very much of anything else, carrying his rock made me feel a little more connected. I realized that over in Iraq and Afghanistan these brave men and women were fighting under a burning sun, and I was upset about a little snow, and I really began to appreciate what these people do. When we arrived at the top I wasn’t really sure what to share about what I had learned about Edmund and my experience, but I think I said something meaningful.
This is an experience I’ll never forget, and I hope to be able to honor another soldier who has passed, perhaps even Edmund one day. My eyes were opened to how good we have it in America, and the struggles and hardships of a soldier in combat. I appreciate everything that our servicemen and women have done and I am honored to have had the privilege to bring up Sgt. Edmund W. McDonald’s memorial stone to the top of Bradbury mountain.
Thank you for carrying my son’s stone.
Ms. McDonald,
It was our distinct honor and privilege to escort your sons stone to Twin Pines for The Summit Project 2015. As the VP of the Patriot Riders for Chapter 2 we always look for ways to honor our fallen hero’s. We knew what to expect with this being our second year involved, however the feelings and emotion are still as raw and real as last year. Throughout the escort from Portland the feelings and anticipation built. We knew you had prior commitments and could not be there, but that did not detract from the overall mission.
Your son is a true hero for his commitment to our country. His ultimate sacrifice gave US the opportunity to be involved in this project and protect our daily freedoms.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family this Memorial Day weekend and we hope to meet you some day in the future.
To the Family of Army Sgt. Edmund W. McDonald,
My name is Dylan Harris and it was an amazing honor to hike with the stone of your loved one, Edmund McDonald. As the Lead hiker for Team Blue I was saddened to hear that the original hiker was unable to make the trip to Baxter and hike with Edmundâs stone. As the Team Lead I felt it was my duty to step up right away and make sure that Edmundâs memory was still honored and carried each step of the over six mile journey up Owl. Every second was worth the extra weight in my bag.
This is my fourth time that I have been privileged to hike along side the Summit Project Family. I am the brother of Army Spc. Dustin J. Harris. He is the reason that I am involved with the Summit Project. I have hiked with his stone a couple different times. I spoke with Major David Cote and decided it was time for me to let others learn about my brother and time for me to learn about some of Maineâs other heros. Along with Cpl. Mark Goyet, Edmund is my first set of the honored fallen I was able to carry with me.
I sorry I did not have very much time to learn about Edmond before the hike but Iâve since tried to learn more about him and I also found one very touching article online. It really stood out to me and hit home to me. The article mentioned that you guys had learned of Edmondâs accident on March 29th, my younger cousinâs birthday (Jett was a part of my hiking team this year). There were a few things that reminded me of myself as well. I also enjoy cooking (I love to barbeque!), I like to think I have a tender and caring heart, and I adore my pseudo nieces and nephews very much! The part that hit me the hardest was when the article mentioned that Edmondâs sister Chris kept checking her email to see if he had responded yet. I often laid awake at night thinking to myself that my brother wasnât really gone, this wasnât real, heâs going to be back home soon.
I know each family heals differently, and each family member in the family has their own way of healing. Being a part of the Summit Project is my way of healing. I put all of my heart into the hikes, and I have so much pride seeing everyone getting involved with the Project. I hope by carrying your Loved Oneâs memorial stone that it helps with your healing. I hope you take pride in everything your loved one has done.
Again, I was so honored and blessed to be able to hike with Edmondâs memorial stone. I hope to be able to be blessed enough to meet his family someday, but until that day I hope I fulfilled the TSP mission and helped you guys honor your loved one.
With all my heart,
Gold Star Brother,
Dylan Harris
To the family and friends of Edmund W. McDonald,
On 29 May, I had the honor of carrying the stone of Edmund W. McDonald to the summit of Bigelow Mountain. It was a very good day to climb this mountain, but it was also a very difficult task. As am I not very physically fit, I had a hard time doing it, and I really believed that I could not. But then I thought about it. It was then I realized I wasn’t doing this for myself, for the pride, to make myself feel or look good. I was doing this for Edmund. It was for the family, and the friends of him. Everyone that loved him and missed him. That pushed me to continue, that pushed me to the top.
Reading about Edmund, I learned a lot about him, and it’s what I thought most of on my way to the top as I did my hike. I learned that Edmund is from Casco Maine, where he went to Lake Region High School. As described by his mom, I learned that he was a free spirit, who loved to cook, played several instruments, and acted in plays. I learned that he he had 2 tours of Iraq previously, and he was on his first tour of Afghanistan. I learned that 3 years before he died, he got married to Melissa Knight, and they had just recently bought a house.
My thoughts go out to the families and friends of Edmund W. McDonald who, although, I may have been hurting during the hike, your hut is more permanent, something that will always be left as a void, something that can never be changed, or healed.
Again, it was my honor to carry the stone of Edmund W. McDonald to the summit of Bigelow Mountain as part of the Summit project. If there is anymore that I should know to remember him, I would appreciate, and love, to hear it.
With All My Heart
Nokomis JROTC
Cadet Lieutenant Colonel
Tristian Shealy
Dear Family,
I was the hiker who was fortunate enough to carry Edmund’s stone with me to the top of Cadillac Mountain, this year at The Summit Project’s annual Acadia National Park event. Words cannot express how thankful I am for the honor to climb with his stone. Prior to the hike, I spent as much time as possible getting to know Edmund, and I hope to carry on his legacy now that I know a bit more about him.
Once again, I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to have the honor to carry Edmund’s stone and I will endsure that his legacy lives on with me and The Summit Project.
-Andrew Coleman
Thank you for letting me carry SGT Edmund McDonaldâs stone. I am sure he is proud each time someone carries his stone in his honor. I am thankful that I got to carry it because it makes me feel like I had the chance to spend time with him. I unfortunately didnât get the chance to spend much time with him in my life. He was loved by his family and friends and all the people he met because he was an outgoing guy and I just wanted to say thank you.
Sincerely,
Owen Vanover
I had the honor of carrying Sgt. Edmund McDonaldâs stone to the top of Cadillac mountain on October 1st. Going into this hike, I knew I had big shoes to fill. The more I researched about Sgt. McDonald, the more I realized that the love that he had for his friends and family was truly reflected in the legacy he left behind. There are comments on memorials all over the web from comrades and family, and even those who came across his memorial and felt a connection with him and felt the need to say hello. When I made the hike, I kept in mind Sgt. McDonaldâs love of all things Maine, how his mother said he was a âwild child,â and how his brother spoke fondly about how Sgt. McDonald knew the importance of âtreating your lady right.â He definitely treated me right, and I could feel his wild spirit hiking alongside me the entire way. During the hike I thought fondly of the comments his friends posted detailing the antics of their time at Basic Training, as well as serving in Afghanistan. I know that we would have been fast friends, and someone I could have turned to for both good times and bad times. God Bless Sgt. McDonald and his family. He will always be on my mind and heart, and I can guarantee he will never be forgotten.
Dear Family,
I was scheduled to hike with Edmund’s stone last Friday but unfortunately the hike had to be canceled due to weather/ snow plow danger to hikers. We still were able to get together as a group in Gorham to share what we had learned about the lives of our fallen heroes; it was my honor to share what I had learned about SGT Edmund McDonald.
I noticed that day-that today: March 29, 2017-is the 10 year anniversary of Edmund’s death. I hope that as a family, you can find some comfort in the memories you shared with him in life. I wanted to let you know that I’m thinking of him and you all today. I hope to be able to carry his memory stone on a future hike-but now that I know about him and his family-I’ll always carry his memory.
I’m very sorry for your loss, but I’m also very thankful that a man such as your son and brother lived to serve us all.
All of my best,
Dave Richmond
Dear family of Edmund,
I just finished hiking Table Rock Mountain with campers who all have a parent or sibling currently serving in the military. This is what one child had to say about carrying Edmund:
“I felt the hike meant more than it would if I didn’t have Edmund’s rock. Because I knew that I was carrying the weight of his rock, the weight of him, and helping him to still go on adventures. It was a new experience carrying a fallen soldier up and to learn about him”.
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.
To the family and friends of Edmund,
Two weeks ago, Michael Keighley and I hiked up Table Rock Mountain in Maine with 44 teenagers who all have a parent or sibling currently serving in the military. They carried 28 stones up the mountain that day. Here is a letter from the campers that had the honor of carrying your hero.
“I had a lot of fun carrying Edmund’s stone. I also love music and I play the trumpet. While reading about him I learned a lot about a man who loved his country, including the fact that he loved to cook just like I do. I am honored to have the opportunity to share his story with others.”
-Mya and Alexa
To the family and friends of Army Sgt. Edmund W. McDonald,
This being my second TSP hike, I thought I would be more emotionally prepared to research the story of our fallen hero and carry his him and his stone to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. I was so wrong. My first opportunity to be a part of a TSP hike changed me in ways I wasnât expecting, and this experience turned out to be even more impactful. Sgt. McDonaldâs love of cooking and the outdoors, knowing how to treat a lady, having his âspotâ to go and reflect, and his little streak of flower child all helped me to feel an immediate connection to him.
A bit of a wild child and jokester myself, now in recovery and 5years sober, I immediately understood what he meant when he told his family he had found something bigger than himself; how he had found the thing he wanted to be a part of the rest of his life. Completely taken by his character and commitment, it reminded me what Iâm doing in recovery and, most importantly, why Iâm doing it.
I will continue to carry his story with me as I traverse the summits and valleys we all face in life and those I face in my recovery. Sgt. McDonald has helped fill me with a great reverence for what is us, and yet simultaneously bigger than all of us: dedication and service to our fellows. With this profound understanding, I go in his honor.
Many thanks and much love,
Andrew Kiezulas
To the family of Edmund McDonald,
It was my up most honor and privilege to carry Edmundâs memorial stone on the motorcycle convoy from Portland to Millinocket over Memorial weekend.
Thank you very much for this honor,
Shawn Boutaugh
To the family of Army Sgt. Edmund W. McDonald,
It was an honor and a privilege to carry the stone and the story of Ed. I already knew a little bit about Ed, as his Mom, Kathy had worked with my sister-in-law. Kathy had reached out to me, right after our son, Mark was killed in Afghanistan. She knew the anguish of losing a child and she was comforting me. As I climbed the Owl with Ed’s stone, I thought of him as Kathy’s child. I was carrying a child’s story. One who grew up to be in the Army. Who loved to cook and play the guitar. Ed had a wife. I wondered the what ifs and if he and Melissa would have had children of their own, by now….there are always so many what ifs when you think about where one of our fallen would be now in his or her life. There are never any coincidences when hiking a TSP stone. First fact that jumped out with me was that we shared the same birthday. Then I read where Ed’s stone was from property in Westbrook where you could look out and see the Presidential Range. I know that there is a hill in Westbrook, on the end of the street that I grew up on, where you can see Mt. Washington, on a clear day. As I climbed the mountain, my pack was heavy. When we removed the stones for a photo op, the pack was so much easier to carry. When the stone was once again carefully put in the bottom of the ruck, and heaved on my back, the weight was noticeable. I knew Ed was with me. For anyone who hiked with me, that day, it was obvious that I was not quite prepared for this climb. I had prepared physically, and I thought mentally, as I knew how emotional it was to carry a stone and story of a Fallen soldier. I had done it before. What I was not prepared for, was the fact that my fear of heights slapped me in the face and I had a panic attack as we cleared the trees and I looked down over the side of the mountain. I somehow didn’t factor in climbing in fear. I didn’t think I could go on, but my team sheltered me from the view and led me one hand hold and foothold at a time, to the summit. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done. My energy was zapped by the anxiety. The circle of remembrance was beautiful and emotional as thoughts of Ed were shared. I hoped I had remembered to share everything I had read about him. It was only when we were almost down to the bottom of the mountain, as I was carefully, slapping each weary step between the roots and rocks, that I turned to one of the team and said, “Oh, my word…I forgot to say that Ed was afraid of heights!” I had read that early on in my studies of him. I am certain that Ed carried me through the toughest part. It was truly an honor to carry Ed’s stone. Maine Heroes Are Not Forgotten!
It was an honor and a privilege to carry the stone and the story of Eddie. I went into the weekend with the mindset that I was carrying the stone of not only a soldier but my cousin who is more like a brother. I went to support my Aunt Kathy on this Memorial Day weekend. As I placed the stone in my backpack the emotions started right in as I thought of all the good and bad times we had growing up. As I climbed that trail my pack seemed to getting heavier, it was just like Ed was right there on my back telling me to keep on moving and not to be sick a whimp. When I got to the lake and I was sharing my stories of Ed and I couldnt keep a dry eye, I realized I was there to support my Aunt, I was there for those to support me.
It was such an amazing feeling to share with others about Ed and his love for family, music, and just life in general. Ed loved brownies and to my surprise there were brownies waiting for us at the end of home. I feel that was Ed’s way of telling me he was with me this weekend.
Thank you for allowing me to carry Ed’s stone and keeping his memory alive.
Thank you Norma Jean for carrying his stone and telling his story. The emotional feeling from this experience is sometimes hard to explain to others. Now that you have experienced it you can understand fully the power and support that I feel with Ed. â¤ď¸
To the family and friends of Army Sgt. Edmund W. McDonald,
On Friday, June 14th I had the honor of participating in The Summit Project hike with my fellow Pratt and Whitney peers and I represented Edmund. We hiked Mt. Agamenticus which is a favorite hike for me. My wife and I relocated from Massachusetts four years ago and discovered this hike and when we have visitors, we take them there. The beauty of seeing both the White Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean is not only breathtaking but puts the beauty of this region into perspective. I will now forever share this experience with Edmund.
I was delayed in posting this message because after that hke, my son-in-law and I drove cross-country to Camp Pendleton. He is a Marine officer and is being assigned there and I did the drive with him to move some of their furnishings and their car. I thought of my experience with TSP and Edmund often on this trip so I am glad that I did not respond right away. I shared my experience with my family before the trip and we were all moved by your familyâs sacrifice. It seems to me that Edmund had finally found his way in life and was always a good example to his family of how a good and honorable person lives their lives. I believe that our loved ones are always with us even after death and I also believe that Edmundâs life continues to have a rippling effect on those who honor him on these hikes and this makes me very proud to be a part of that family now. I have a renewed sense of awe and admiration for those who serve and for the families of those who serve. I thank you for bringing Edmund into my life for I am a better man now for having shared my time with him.
Dearest Family of Ed McDonald,
My heart has been so very full with Army Sergeant Edmund W. McDonald since I received assignment of his memorial stone for TSP at ANP on 28 September.
Learning about Ed on the TSP site, I was moved by how much we had in common even though we are a generation apart. Born in 1964, I am old enough to be his mother but share his love of the Grateful Dead! I also play guitar, love the outdoors, and had a circuitous path to my eventual career with many interesting but diverse jobs along the way. I also share his fear of heights and so impressed by how he overcame that by parachuting out of planes!
I was especially moved by the fact that his stone came from a place that he loved to be in to get away from it all. A place that was private and peaceful and from where he could see mountains – challenges and possibilities.
From all I read and saw, Ed was a great friend and mentor to all who knew him, especially his family, and I was taken with his advice to Shayne about treating women right and bringing them flowers for no reason other than love! What a gem! And I am very sad that he was not able to be the fantastic father that he certainly would have been!
Kathy, my heart goes out to you. That picture of you and Ed when he was a little boy really breaks my heart. You have a truly special bond with your Hippy Child and I am in awe of that. As a mom, I think of you every day and honor you both. I would welcome the chance to meet you one day. Please do reach out if youâd like.
I thank you for the privilege of carrying Edâs memorial stone on Saturday. I think of him daily and he will never be forgotten.
With love and best regards,
Kim
To the family of Sgt. Edmund McDonald:
I had the honor of accompanying Ed to the summits of Dorr and Cadillac Mountains this past Saturday as part of the Summit Project.
I say accompanying because instead of just carrying a stone, it truly felt like I was hiking with someone who, had we met while he was still with us, would have been a fast friend and someone youâd want to have with you on an adventure like that.
I could picture us talking about our shared love of music (our favorite Grateful Dead songs could probably be a long conversation in and of itself!), swapping some tales of our favorite outdoor spots here in Maine, and if Iâm honest, weâd probably be sharing some of our exploits from our younger, wilder days â a trait we certainly have in common, and Iâm sure the surrounding hillsides would echo with laughter as we recounted some of those stories.
What I canât picture, however, is the fortitude it took for him to willingly put himself in harmâs way the way he did. The inner strength it took to devote himself to defending our country, not just those of you who knew and loved him, but for all of us who call America home. That, to me, speaks volumes of the character he possessed, and the true measure of his selflessness clearly knows no bounds.
The journalist and author Damon Runyon once wrote, âYou can keep the things of bronze and stone and give me one man to remember me just once a year.â Clearly, there is a legion of those who think of and cherish Edâs memory every day, and after this weekend, there is one more to add to that list â me.
I thank you for the privilege of accompanying Ed on our hike this weekend, and I would be beyond honored to do it again next year.
Jason Strout
jason.strout@gmail.com
McDonald Family,
This was my first Summit Project hike. I had the honor of carrying the stone and the privilege of sharing the story of your son and brother. I has taken me a few days to sift through everything I experienced that day.
I thought of him playing with all of his cousins in your large Irish family. What a great way to grow up…always having a playmate! I imagine in my mind that childhood experience contributed to his loving title of “wild child”.
Our hike was affected by the weather on September 25th. The forecast called for heavy rain and lightening. TSP officials had five plans in place for us depending on the weather. We ended up doing PLAN C.
Plan C took us on a 40 minute walk from our meeting point to Echo Lake through beautiful woods and along a carriage trail. It didn’t rain as we walked. When we got to the sandy beach of Echo Lake the water was like a mirror and fog covered the top of Beech Cliff. It was a stunning place to be at that moment. As soon as we gathered in a circle to share our heroes and their stories the sun came out. For the next 90 minutes there was blue sky with no threat of rain…. It was so peaceful. So warm.
Someone in our circle said the stone picks the hiker. It seems like this is true. I too love to cook and be adventurous.
I love how Edmund’s stone stands up straight, all by itself.
I drew a picture of him parachuting down to the spot where his stone came from.
Rest in peace Sargent. Thank you for your service. I love you.
Dear Kathy, Shayne and other family and friends of Edmund:
My name is Kimberly MacDonald, (the other way to spell it!) and I had the complete honor of carrying Edmundâs memorial stone up to Owl Peak over Memorial Day weekend. We were blessed with a beautiful day, an amazing team of hikers with an abundance of good spirit and a bounty of black flies to remind us we were among natures best.
I had prepared for the hike, mentally, by knowing the hard work that Edmund must have done to become the type of soldier that was required by his unit. As part of my physical preparation, I found a stone I estimated to be about the right size and carried it in my backpack as I was doing some of my training, so that I could get a feel for the weight. What I could never have prepared for was the emotional experience that carrying his stone and being with the people involved with this project over the weekend, brought to bear on my soul.
I regularly work with military families, both active and retired and have a very intimate understanding of the commitment they have made. It was made crystal clear to me this weekend, the very real piece of the commitment that involves personal risk of life. Hearing all the stories, meeting the families that could join us and feeling the spirit of those not physically present, brought this commitment into sharp focus. During our memorial sharing with the carried stones, while gathered as a team, surrounded by the beauty of Mt. Katahdin and the forests and boulders surrounding us, the words and the tears flowed. Hearts were full and voices trembled. Humbling moments like this are rare in todayâs world.
Thank you to your son, and your family, for giving the world Edmund McDonald, who served us all so well and continues to be a model and presence to inspire others to come.
To the family and friends of Ed.  I’ve been hiking with The Summit Project for 6 years now, and without exception every hike is so different, and the reasons are always unique.  This time, I was on a hike with a very capable team with mostly new members.  We hopped off the bus in the wrong location and hit the trail with enthusiasm. It was awhile before we discovered the mistake, but it was a fortuitous one. Our mission, drive, and positive attitude never waned.  It was an exceptionally beautiful hike, and we moved along at a good clip.  We adjusted our plan and direction as we went along.  Eventually we found the trailhead that we were supposed to be on – two hours later.  We summited the mountain on time, and had a meaningful sharing of our heroes.  I know as I shared Ed’s story, there were others in the group that drew parallels to thier own life, as we often do, and also felt a wave of sadness that he was taken too soon. We asked a stranger to take our group photo at the top when we were done.  He agreed, but took a little extra time to make his way over to us.  He had literally JUST gotten engaged. Yet, he was happy to share a bit of our experience.  All of this together, with the mostly-younger-than-me group, made for a vibe that it felt like Ed was right there in the pack, enjoying the ridiculously fun and crazy day we had.  I am so grateful that you decided to share Ed’s life and story with us.  Not only are we carrying on his memory, but in a way, his life, death, and the struggles of your healing serve to strengthen and help all of us in various and unique ways.  Thank you.
My name is Bradley Lancaster and I did the Summit Project with the JROTC at Nokomis Regional High. We did Tumbledown Mountain in Blue Hill State Park in Weld, Maine. I had the stone of Army Sergeant Edmund W. McDonald and it was an honor to carry his stone to the top of Tumbledown and use that time to remember what he and many others did for our country. They paid the ultimate price. When we got to the top and did our memorial circle while reading his card with his stone one thing that stuck out to me was that his stone came from a place he knew well, a hillside in Westbrook with an amazing view of the White Mountains. Overall this was an amazing experience even with the rain it was an honor to carry a fallen hero’s stone up Tumbledown Mountain.
My name is Hayley Choate, and Iâm from Auburn, Maine. I have the opportunity & privilege to carry Sgt. Edmund McDonaldâs stone to the top of Cadillac Mountain, Maine. This experience has been incredibly humbling, and I am so thankful I was able to participate.
Edmund is a loved man, and missed by so many in his family. His mother said it snows every year on his birthday, and she knows its because he’s looking down on her on that day. His motherâs strength is truly admirable, and Iâm thankful that Edmund brought us together as well.
Edmund was a music lover, and often played guitar with his friends. He sang his own songs, and is described as âthe life of the party.â He loved his friends and family ferociously, and would give his clothes off his back to help them. He was proud of his military enlistment, and took pride in his Irish heritage.
My mom and I did this hike together, and it will always be something I will look back on with pride. Thank you to Edmundâs family for allowing me this opportunity to continue Edmundâs memory.
On Feb 2nd, 2024 it was my honor and privilege to carry the stone and story of Edmund McDonald. Edmund was a part of a collection of 20 memorial stones that have been on display at Katahdin Middle and High School.
The first time I learned about the Honor Case I had a dream about getting the case at the school that I and my brother received an education and that I now work at. Edmund has been in the Honor Case along with my brother Dustin Harris. The stones were hand picked by a group of our students as a project for their class. They picked mostly local individuals in relation to our school but others such as Edmund were chosen as well.
On a beautiful winter day myself, two other teachers, and 17 high school students carefully loaded the memorial stones into our backpacks and made a winter trek of about a mile or so around the school properties. Snow was crunchy under our feet. It was stuck to the trees to make a beautiful setting for these students to honor our lost and fallen family, soldiers, and loved ones.
When we gathered for our circle ceremony I started the ceremony with a little speech about the Summit Project and what it has meant to me as a Gold Star Brother. I talked about how proud, honored, and grateful I was to have my students participate in this project.
I talked about Edmund next. I talked about how this was my second time that I had this honor. I talked about the connections I had with Edmund, how he was lost near my birthday, how he was apart of the airborne division and that my brother was as well, and of how we both enjoy cooking. I talked about the love people have for Edmund and how he was a caring and loving person.
After I spoke the students shared the stories of their fallen. After the group had finished there were hugs given, tears were shed, laughing occurred, but most of all our fallen family and friends were honored. I am extremely proud of how the students took this project and âassignmentâ with such care and compassion. I was honored to be a part of this event. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to honor Edmund. He will always have a place in my heart.
Dear Family,
My name is Josh Creswell and on May 21st, 2024 I had the honor of carrying the stone and story of Edmund McDonald up Tumbledown Mountain to tell his story to my fellow Jrotc cadets.
The trip was very sunny and hot but was a really enjoyable trip which I spent with my friends to honor Edmund and many others. At the summit we all shared the story of these fallen heroes.
Thank you for letting me honor Edmund, he will live on inside us all.