33, of Lewiston, Maine; assigned to 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, GA; killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq.
To honor SGT Daniel F. J. Cunningham, his mother, Nancy Cunningham retrieved this stone from one of SGT Cunningham’s favorite places to visit, the Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, ME near their home in Lewiston, ME.
Nancy Cunningham describes her son — “About Daniel, when he was young we called him Lil Dan. Then he got older he wanted us to call him>>DAN THE MAN. He always had a smile that was so contagious. You always knew he was in the area. Him and his younger brother Jim were crazy together, always had something planned>>>good or bad. Like when him and Jim came up from the cellar with a snake hanging from a pair pliers. Needless to say how MOM felt about that. Dan was always a good student with good grades. He had many many friends who would come to our house to play backyard football or hockey. Very typical boys play. He married his high school sweetheart and at that time decided he wanted to be called STUDLY Dan or Dan the Man. Things changed in a couple of years when he announced he was going to be a Dad. Even more joy when they said it was a Boy. His expression changed when he realized that this baby is the first born of the first born, and the first born Dad Danny and then Connor. Times started to get tough for him, and the finances shot out the door. Lost jobs here and there, only one paycheck coming in. That was when Dan decided the Military was the way to go. He and his wife separated and he joined the Army. He was the oldest Soldier in the barracks which they all thought it meant he was the BOSS. At that time they all decided to call him C-Ham.”
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Dear ones involved in the summit project,
I am honored that I had the opportunity to climb up Bradbury mountain holding a rock in the remembrance of Daniel F.J. Cunningham. This day gave me a great perspective of what Veteran’s day really means. We are celebrating the fallen veterans and the rest of the veterans. It really meant a lot to me and
it felt good to participate in the summit project.
Daniel F.J Cunningham was from Lewiston, Maine. This is also my hometown. I feel like it means more that I am also from Lewiston. If he was somewhere I didn’t know. I feel like I wouldn’t be able to connect to him as much. I knew where he grew up and the places he liked to visit. One of his favorite places to visit was Oxford Plains Speedway. I have been there before also. Even though it isn’t my favorite place like it was his. I still know what he was talking about. The rock was from there, and I had the honor to carry it up the mountain in honor of him.
When I was hiking up Bradbury Mountain during the cold, snowy, and wet weather, I wasn’t thinking about the conditions at all. I had a fun time hiking up and doing it for a bigger reason to honor this one fallen soldier was an amazing feeling. This made me realize how great I have it. This veterans risk their lives to fight for our freedom. Hiking this mountain was nothing to what these veterans had to go through. Being cold for 30 to 45 minutes was nothing. Soldiers have to be in extreme conditions in the hot or cold fighting and they don’t complain. They fight through the pain and do everything they can to protect us and do what’s right, fighting for our country.
When I got to the top with the group I was hiking with everyone was saying what their fallen veteran was like or what he did. Everyone held a rock with the initials of their soldier and the year they were born and they year they died. Daniel was 33 years old when he passed. He was one of the older guys in service compared to the rest of the fallen veterans. But 33 years old is still very young. But he died fighting for us. Daniel was a great guy and will be missed.
I am going to remember this day for the rest of my life. Veteran’s day will mean more to me now after doing this project. I have family members that are veterans. Knowing that they could’ve died and I wouldn’t of been able to know them would be terrible. Losing any loved one is hard. But after the summit project I am going to give more thought every Veteran’s Day from now on. I am glad that I had the opportunity to do the summit project. I hope everyone will have the opportunity to do it one day because, I know it was a great day for me and I will never forget it.
R.I.P Daniel F.J Cunningham and to the rest of the Fallen Soldiers. You’ll be missed.
From,
Steven Sinclair
Dear Ones,
The lives were taken from the individuals who fought for our country. Daniel F Cunningham, a young soldier from Lewiston, Maine put his life on the line to fight in the Vietnam War. His life definitely was taken, but he’ll always be honored as a hero who fought for us, the people of the United States. In class, we’ve spent a lot of time about the Vietnam War – Christopher’s experience really puts a face during wars like that. It makes me think about the great tragedy of war: that the young are the ones who fight and die.
It was definitely a one of a kind experience carrying his stone up the mountain. There were many feelings & emotions involving this, especially since he passed away at such a young age of only 33. This educational field trip made me realize a lot about life, and how we take things for granted. Not to mention, I also realized that life is short and you never know when death is coming for you. The trip made me think about all the soldiers who fight each and everyday, risking their lives not knowing if theyâll make it home that day or not.
Daniel Cunningham, who was known to be a great student and achieved good grades; died due to a vehicle accident in Iraq. He also had a bit of a tough life before he had joined the military. C-Ham will always be remembered in our hearts, known to be a courageous young soldier from our home town, Lewiston, Maine.
Sincerely,
Shivam Kumar A1
My name is Dan Tereshko, over Memorial Day Weekend, I had the privilege of carrying the stones of three of Maineâs fallen to the summit of Mt Katahdinâs, Owl Peak as part of The Summit Project.
Reaching Owl Peak was the culmination of weeks of preparation, mentally, physically and learning as much as we could about the heroes that we would be carrying up the mountain. The process of preparing for the hike has a profound impact upon each hiker and I am grateful for the opportunity to had the opportunity to carry on the memories of:
Army Sgt Jason Swiger, 24, of South Portland, ME; 5th Squadron, 73rd Cav, 3rd BCT, 82nd Airborne, killed March 25th, 2007, Baqubah, Iraq when a suicide bomber detonated himself while Jason and his team were distributing candy to Iraqi children. Marine Major Samuel Leigh of Belgrade, ME; HMLA-469, MAG-16, 3rd MAW, 1st MEF, killed October 29, 2009 when a USCG C130 collided with his helicopter on a training mission off the coast of San Diego. Army Spc. Daniel Cunningham, 33, of Lewiston, ME; 41st Field Artillery regiment, Fort Stewart, GA killed April 3, 2004 when his convoy came under mortar fire and his Humvee swerved and went into a ravine.
During the hike our team shared stories about their fallen heroes, why they joined the military, how they volunteered for multiple deployments, and what personality strengths they brought to their respective units and how they bound their teams together. As our team climbed I reflected each of the three heroes best trait and focused on how to make those traits a part of my daily life in order to keep their memories alive and ensure that Maine Heroes Are Not Forgotten.
I had a special connection with Jason in that I was operating out of FOB Warhorse in Baqubah as an EOD technician when Jason was killed. One of our primary jobs was to render safe the never ending stream of IEDâs emplaced along the roads we had to travel everyday. It weighs heavily that we were not able to eliminate every IED. Jason was a Role Model that led by example and a Volunteer, offering to go so others would not have to. Jason was unable to return and continue to volunteer, he has strengthened my resolve to give back to the community through volunteer work for non-profit Veterans programs.
Iâve always had a deep respect for Marines between their professionalism, integrity, honor, loyalty and selflessness. Major Leigh had been to Iraq twice and was preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan. In between deployments he volunteered his time teaching, contributing to aviation blogs, teaching and preparing young aviators to give them a leg up in their professional development. Hearing of his passion for teaching has inspired me to make sure that I teach and lead those that work with me and help develop future veteran entrepreneurs.
Daniel Cunningham inspired me in a very different way. Daniel joined the Army in order to provide a better life for his family. He gave his life making sure he could support his wife and son. âGreater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friendsâ. Danielâs greatest trait was his selfless sacrifice. Through his sacrifice and memory Daniel will be a constant guiding light of the bigger picture, to always give back to the less fortunate, those who are unable to defend themselves, and to make things better for those that come after us.
As I stood on the top of Katahdin it was impossible to ignore the emotions and thoughts going through my head. But most of all I was grateful that these heroes sacrifice was not in vain. Looking around at everyone in our team I was amazed by how the memories of the falen could foster such a sense of community, perseverance, teamwork, selflessness and service to others.
Thank you to everyone who has stood the watch, and those still standing the watch.
On October 17, 2015 I had the honor to carry the stone and story of Army Spc. Daniel J. Cunningham up Cadillac Mountain. Going into this event I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew that there would be a ton of emotions, Some I could sense before the hike began and others that would arise when the day approached. Every day for weeks in advance I read stories about Daniel, the wonderful things his family and friends had to say about him. I began to feel like I knew him…Like he was with me already.
When I arrived at base camp the morning of the hike and found my team and our table of stones Daniels stood out right away. I stood there in complete silence and closed my eyes and imagined what this day was all about. I looked around at all the other stones, the other hikers, and volunteers knowing we were all here for the same reason. To honor these men and women for all they have done for us, all they gave, and sacrificed.
After boarding the bus and meeting the group of hikers I would make this journey with there became immediate friendship. We laughed, told stories of our own lives, talked about our stones, their journeys and lives. We bonded in an indescribable way. We became family, forever friends. We had the honor of sharing moments that you cant even explain to anyone else.
There were times during the hike I took Daniels Stone from my pack to hold it close to my heart, to again read his name on the stone, and to take pictures. As a group we stopped and took in the moments, the beautiful fall foliage, and the opportunity to check in with each other. One we reached the top of the Mountain….Our final destination we gather in a circle each holding our stone and told our stories. We told the lives of our fallen from their childhood on. We smiled, we cried, and we stood in silence to respect. I will never forget the feeling of talking of Daniel as a husband, father, a son and Friend. He was a man of his word. He like to be called “Dan The Man”. He was a good Student with good grades, he was an achiever. Needless to say I was proud to get to know Dan from his family stories. Daniels stone was found by his mother at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford Maine, a place his mother stated he loved to visit. That is something that we both share, although I have yet to go Oxford I do make my visits to Beechridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough.
I know this journey was not the last for Daniel and I. In May I hope to carry his stone again, as well as make the trek up Cadillac Mountain again next October. My heart is filled with so much love not only from getting to know this incredible man but from the forever friends I have made along the way.
So much love and respect
Dear family of SGT. Daniel F. Cunningham,
On December 4, 2015 my classmates and I took a field trip to Bradbury Mountain. On this field trip I was asked to carry a stone for SGT. Daniel F. Cunningham. I was told that this climb was for The Summit Project which honors the fallen soldiers of Maine. As I climbed the mountain carrying Daniel’s rock, I thought about the sacrifice he made for his country and about the things he left behind: his children, his mother, friends, and family that loved him. I also thought about how this honored man laid his life for his country and if I could ever lay my life down for my country and put myself before my country as Dan did. I can only imagine what a good son and great dad Dan was. I didn’t know Dan but if I could have met him even once, it would have been an honor.
As my group stood on the top of that mountain, we talked about what a great leader and just all around great guy Dan was. I never really thought about a career in the military before this hike, but after hearing Dan’s story it inspired me to look into a career in the military. His story was inspirational for me and I would like to express my deepest sympathy for Dan’s friends and family.
Sincerely,
Ian Brushwein
Dear Peers of the Summit Project,
I had the honor of carrying the stone of Army Spc. Daniel F. Cunningham. Daniel was from Lewiston, Maine; not too far from where I’m from. Daniel was a good student with great motivations to succeed. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, in Fort Stewart, GA. In remembrance of him, his mother, Nancy Cunningham retrieved this stone from one of his favorite places to visit, the Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, ME.
Going up the mountain I was trying to put into words what the trip meant to me. I thought about all the sacrifices the veterans had made and it brought to light the courage they had to fight for our country. I thought about Spc. Cunningham and his selflessness to protect and defend our freedom and liberty. I thought about how heartbreaking and devastating it is that such a kindhearted and brave man lost his life fighting for ours. All these reflections crossed my mind throughout the journey and motivated me to want to help others. Because of our service members bravery and sacrifice we get to enjoy the freedoms we have today without fear.
I have a new feeling of appreciation and respect for Daniel and all the other fallen heroes who risked their lives for us. The Summit Project was an incredible experience that opened my eyes to a new realm of the world. I will share this project and the message that it brings to everyone. Thank you Nancy Cunningham for allowing me to carrying Daniel’s stone in remembrance of him. His contagious smile and uplifting presents shall never be forgotten. The story of C-Ham and all the other fallen soldiers should always be remembered and shared with others.
Sincerely, Yasmin
On April 16, 2016 I carried SGT Daniel Cunningham’s stone to complete the Tough Ruck marathon along with 7 of my Team Red White & Blue teammates in Minute Man National Park in Concord/Lexington MA . This was a 26.2 mile ruck to honor all the brave soldiers and service men and women that we have lost. The event raises funds to support the families of these heroes and veterans in need.
It was a difficult 8.5 hour journey with a heavy pack made possible through the camaraderie of teammates. Reading Daniel’s story I imagine that he felt that same camaraderie and sense of team and mission with his fellow soldiers. I have great admiration for the fact that he enlisted at an older age than most. Daniel and I were born in the same year, and like him I have two children. As I sat with his stone after the event, I thought about my family and became saddened by the fact that his opportunities to experience his children in the same way were cut far too short.
It was truly an honor to carry Daniel’s stone, and I am so grateful for his service and the service of all of our brave men and women and their families. Thank you for the opportunity to learn his story and share his memory.
Respectfully,
Mark LoSacco
MHANF
On April 16, 2016 I had the honor of carrying SGT Daniel Cunningham’s stone at the Tough Ruck in Lexington/Concord MA with my Team RWB Maine teammates. This event was a tribute to all fallen soldiers and first responders. The proceeds from the event support the families of lost ones and veterans in need.
The 26.2 mile ruck was a difficult challenge made possible through the camaraderie of a great team, and the inspiration of the heroes we marched to honor. I imagine that Daniel took strength during tough times from the bonds with his fellow soldiers. Daniel and I were born the same year, and sitting after the ruck with his stone I was saddened by the fact that due to his sacrifice, he was not able to experience his son growing up. It was truly a special honor to carry his stone on this journey and share his story with my friends and family to help ensure that his memory lives in the hearts of those so appreciative of his service.
MHANF
I am KayLee Mackie and we hiked Big Moose Mountain on 19 May 2016. While I was carrying Daniel Cunningham’s stone I wanted to quit but then I thought about what he went through in his career and continued the hike. His story was really inspiring because he was always smiling and had good grades throughout school. It was a great honor to carry a stone of such a caring guy. While we were at the summit it started to rain which was not pleasing but we still all talked about the meaning of carrying a soldier’s stone. The hike wasn’t very difficult but it was long enough to reflect on how easy life really is compared to these men’s stories. You don’t realize how it affects everyone even if you do not know the person.
To the loved ones of “Dan the Man”,
Today’s hike will be one that I will think about every single time I hike (I do it a lot!). I wish I could have him with me physically when I hiked or did anything cool in general. The weight on someone’s back is sometimes looked at as a bad thing but the weight of Dan’s stone in my backpack is one that brought me inspiration. You all were right about his smile, though his printed picture is in black and white, it still it up the page. I can’t write too much or I won’t be able to stop but I hope that I can be half the person he is. Thank you for sharing his life with us and giving me the chance to meet him.
Love,
Courtney Bowers
Dear Family,
I had the honor and privilege of carrying the story and memorial stone of Army Specialist Daniel F. J. Cunningham to the top of Cadillac Mountain on October 1, 2016. Daniel was a good student with a virulent smile and natural leadership skills. Daniel was a responsible young adult and he persevered through hard times, always looking for solutions, rather than concentrating on the problems that had the potential to hold him back. After his family fell on hard times, he found the U.S. Army fit his sense of responsibility to his family and country so he went into service seeking a stable source of income.
As I hiked up the mountain with his memorial stone weighing heavily in my pack as Iâm sure the loss of his company weighs on the minds of his family, I thought about his good natured willingness to get his job done while facing stiff challenges. I hiked with the sister of a fallen hero, and the wife of another, so at times the team mood was rather somber. I let my fun, childish side out to play and joke around, thereby lightening the mood, and hopefully the hearts of the team around me, as I felt that Daniel would have done. Daniel was a little older than his peers when he joined the service, so he was looked to for guidance by the younger soldiers around him. Thinking of this trait, I noticed that the two young hikers in our group had ventured ahead on their own, so Daniel and I stepped up our pace and joined them to be nearby in case they needed assistance.
While in the circle at the top of the mountain, I noticed that the family of one of the fallen heroes whose stone was with our group was not present. Daniel and I ran all over the top of the mountain, looking for the family until we found them and escorted the other heroâs dad to our circle location. During the final circle ceremony, stories were shared by parents, spouses, siblings, and young children of fallen heroes. I felt the connections to our brothers, sisters, and their families and I hope that our time and ceremonies lift a bit of the weight from their hearts.
Respectfully,
Pieter Staples
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that at a young age Daniel loved stock car racing, hockey, and football. And more importantly what he did in the military. I learned of his Maine gold star, and how he died fighting and helping us in the army. Also we learned of his son, Connor.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried the stone to try to represent the burden of fighting and risking his life. Though itâs not even close to it, we thought it made it way harder. We shared the stone on the way down, passing it around the whole time. To show respect we never let it touch the ground.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. The activities were teamwork and team building and fun, like lowering a water bottle on a piece of wood with strings strung around the outside, and making a song about our time on the mountain. And we also wrote five unknown adjectives that described us.
At the summit, It felt like conquering the world, and the cool breeze was awesome. I saw Lake Winnipesaukee and the pine forest surrounding and the sun reflecting on the water, a really great view. Then we took the picture of a flag we made with hand prints and our names. And in the picture, I held Danielâs rock which I learned was from one of his favorite places, the stock car racing track. The stone was than transferred to our group as we headed our journey down.
As I reflect back on this experience, I felt the burden of the weight. I was and am honored that I was trusted enough to take this mark that somebody left on this world down Mt. Major. Once I learned what it took to leave friends, family, and society I realized that took a lot of strength, guts, and a heroic mindset to go to Iraq. And now his life has touched many more lives in our school and people that we saw on the hike, showing the incredible story and person your son was.
Sincerely,
Jonny S.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that Daniel died by when his car in the army crashed in a ravine, and his nickname was dan the man and he had a kid named connor that was 12 when Daniel died, and Daniel loved to play football and hockey.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. How we carried the stone we carried the stone so every one each got to hold the stone. We managed to carry this burden by, respecting Daniel Cunningham and that we were hiking up a mountain in honor of him.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. The activities that we did were the bottle challenge where we had a board and we had to lift it up and down as group another one is we had to make shapes with a rope as a group with our eyes closed another one is that we had to make up a song about Daniel Cunningham our hike and about working together.
At the top of the summit, at the top of the mountain we had lunch we looked out at the view, on that day I felt proud, good and happy The picture we took on the top of the mountain was with a flag that we made ourselves with our hands printed on the flag we transferred Danielâs rock over to another group.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel that we climbed a mountain for someone who was serving for our country and died serving for this country. Sometimes people don’t even know when someone dies including me but I think that everyone should hike a mountain holding a rock. They should know how and why someone has died serving for the country that they are living in.
Sincerely,
Lily G.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielsâs life. In my research, I learned that he had a son named Connor who was 11 years old. I also learned that Daniel really enjoyed hockey, football, and stock car racing. Another thing I learned was that his stone was from Oxford Hills Speedway, one of his favorite places to visit.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried the stone in honor of your sonâs bravery. We probably got one of the heaviest stones, but that truly shows how big his heart must have been and how much you guys care about him. Once our turn came to carry the stone my group took turns carrying it. Each person in the group got a turn to carry his stone. My group got the honors of carrying the stone down the mountain. Towards the end of the hike we made sure everyone got a turn to carry the stone. It was a huge honor to carry a past soldier’s memorial stone.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. Two of my favorite games were making the hike song and lifting a bottle with strings and wood block. My whole group participated in making a song about our hike. We came up with a theme for our song and it was âlet it goâ. The song was pretty funny and it was all about the hike and the ice cream we were going to get after the hike. We performed our songs in order to get our ice cream. My second favorite activity was lifting the bottle with strings and a piece of wood. Each person in the group got a string and the piece of wood was in the middle of the strings. It took us a really long time to lift the bottle but we finally did it! We were able to lift the bottle up off the ground and back down again.
At the top of the summit we saw so many great views. I saw so much of Lake Winnipesaukee and also a huge boat that was passing. I took many pictures of the lake and the views. At the top every group came together with the others and we took a group picture with the flag we made with our handprints on it. My group was the last to carry Danielâs stone, so at the top the other group transferred the stone to us. On our way down we all took turns with the stone. When it was my turn I got to carry it down one of the steepest parts, but luckily I got some help from one of my friends in the group. I felt proud to make it to the summit of Mount Major in honor of a soldier. I felt truly honored to be able to hike Mount Major for your son.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel so grateful to have hiked Mount Major for a past soldier. I also feel like Daniel was right there with me seeing all the beautiful views. I am really so honored to have hiked the whole mountain with a stone that is a memorial for a soldier who fought for our country. I will never forget this hike honoring one of the men who has been so brave to join such a life risking career. I hope you enjoyed hearing about my summit project experience and all the things all the things i did on this hike to honor your son Daniel Cunningham.
Sincerely,
Grace P.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that when he was a kid, he loved football and hockey. Daniel had a wife and his son’s name was Conner and he was 12 when he past away. We also learned that he past away in automobile accident by driving into a ravine.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. Everyone in our group held the stone in the memory of Daniel Cunningham. We carried the stone by the bottom of the bag in case it fell. When we got about ½ way up the mountain, we passed it on to another group who carried it up to the summit of the mountain then passed it on to another group who carried the rock ½ way down the mountain.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. Our group activities were trying to lift a water bottle on a platform attached to strings without dropping it to work on communicating and working together , taking a rope and making different shapes with our eyes closed to work on not using our eyes and using our senses, and making a song about our experience to share with the rest of the six white teams.
At the top of the summit, we could see Lake Winnipesaukee, other mountains, the beautiful red, orange, and yellow trees, and a airplane that we could almost touch on top of the mountain. How I felt when I got to the top this mountain was taller than all the other mountains around it. I felt like I was the king of the world. We took a picture on the top of all the kids who carried the rock. We made a american flag with our hand prints on it. As we transferred the stone to another group, we told them to carry it very carefully.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel accomplished, proud, and grateful that I made to the top with the rest of my hiking group.
Sincerely,
Sarah B.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that He was born in Lewiston Maine and had good grades in school. He also played sports like hockey and football. He also became a sergeant while he was serving in Iraq. He also got a Maine Gold Star award for his service.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried the stone to honor Daniel for serving in our military. We carried Danielâs stone about halfway up the mountain then we gave it to another group.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities like making shapes with a rope and lifting a water bottle on a board using strings to pull it up. We did okay but we didnât do that well on some of the activities.
At the top of the summit, we saw most of lake winnipesaukee. It felt good to get to the top. We also made a flag for the Summit Project to honor the veterans from Maine like your son Daniel. We took a picture of us with the flag. All of the students who honored a veteran like your son put their handprints down on a sheet. We made an American flag out of our handprints.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel very proud to honor your son Daniel by carrying his memorial stone up to the summit of Mt. Major. It gave us a good reason to keep pushing up the mountain. If we got tired or slowed down, we remembered the reason why we were doing this in the first place. For your son, Daniel J. Cunningham.
Sincerely,
Mitchell V.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that he had a lot of nicknames like C-ham, and Dan the man, and little Dan. I learned that when he was young he enjoyed hockey, football, stock car racing, and he always had good grades. It was a honor to learn about him.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. I started with the stone from Oxford Hills Speedway it was a true honor. When we reached a steep hill climb I knew Daniel was right here with us and helping us move on. He fought for us and we tried to honor him but nothing can compare for how brave and courageous he was.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. We had to lift up and place down a water bottle with it on a wooden flat platform by holding on to strings that’s attached to the platform.(It’s harder than it looks)
At the top of the summit, I took some pictures. Then we took a group photo with a flag with our handprints on it with someone in the front with the stone. It was amazing to finally reach the top we ate lunch and hung out. It was a great feeling to reach the top.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel honored that I was able to learn about Daniel and his life and the highlights. I will never forget this experience and I will never forget your son SGT. Daniel Cunningham a real Hero.
Sincerely,
Michael B.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that he served in Iraq and he died at age 33. His nickname was Dan the man, and he had really good grades; he died in a vehicle accident in Iraq.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel on our backpack as well a summary of his life could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. It meant a lot to carry Danielâs stone and my friend Michael handed me the stone it felt awesome because Iâm knowing that that Iâm carrying a rock and the person was in the army . Then after a few minutes I handed the stone to my friend Mitch.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities what we did was make a shape with a rope without looking or talking, the next activity we did we had note cards and we wrote 5 words to describe yourself then put them in the middle then share three of your note cards, and then we tried to pick up a water bottle with a rope and wood and that one was hardest , my group thought. We did the activities so we could stop and talk about the soldier and get to know Daniel Cunningham better and and get to take a little brake.
At the top of the summit, it felt great to be up there we took a group picture with the stones and the picture we took was awesome it took us a while to set up to take a picture the picture came out good.
As I reflect back on this experience, I felt awesome that I made it up the mountain, it was an honor to climb the mountain for your son we learned a lot about him he seemed really awesome, there was a lot of hard rocky parts, overall the hike was so fun!
Sincerely,
Andrew
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that he was an amazing person heartfelt and caring.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried the stone up the mountain because it was a great experience to learn respect, and honor the people who have passed on that fought for us need to be shared with the community. I think the summit project is a great way to do that especially for kids. We even had people stop us along the way and asked us about the tags on our backpack and we told them all about your son. We managed to carry the stone all the way, are rocks was heavy, but I wouldnât call it a burden. It was a great learning experiences.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. We tried a lot of bonding activates, and get to know each other through games. They were fun. My favorite game was a bottle game where we had strings tied to a wooden slice we had to lift a water bottle up and down.
At the top of the summit, I saw Lake Winnipesaukee. It was beautiful and there were boats on the water. In back of the lake there were trees, not just any trees. They were red, yellow, green, and orange they were beautiful I took a lot of pictures the look amazing.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel great. It was a great time to hang out with my friends and learn about Daniel and nature. I loved the whole experience. Thank you for letting Daniel come a long.
Sincerely,
Samantha W.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that as a kid he enjoyed stock car racing and he got good grades. He was in the 41st regiment and the oldest in the barracks.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. At the summit of the mountain we got the stone from another group and carried it down the mountain. We passed the stone between the group members to help share the burden. My friend and I carried the stone down the steepest part of the trail.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. At one activity we had to all hold on to a loop of rope and with our eyes closed. We had to make different shapes with it like a triangle or a parallelogram. Another activity was we all had to hold on to a 4ft piece of string that was attached at the end of a 4by4 inch piece of wood. We placed a water bottle on the wood and we had to lift the water but only holding on to the end of our string.
At the top of the summit, we took a picture of the whole 6th grade with our flag that we made back at school. The flag look likes the American flag but we made it with all of our hand prints. The view was amazing. We could see Lake Winnipesaukee from the summit. At the top another group passed the stone off to our group so we could carry it down.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel proud that my group and I carried Danielâs stone down Mt. Major. I am also very grateful that he died serving and protecting our country.
Sincerely,
Helen W.
Dear Daniel Cunningham’s parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that Daniel died when he was only 33 years old. He died on April 4th, 2003 trying to avoid artillery fire and swerved into a ravine. Daniel was in the Army. He had a son named Connor.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. My group was the last group to carry the stone, and I was the last person in my group to carry the stone. When we hiked down the mountain there were many obstacles that include making sharp turns while fast walking downhill, going as fast as the slowest person in your group which is not as hard as serving in the military but it can be similar sometimes.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. In one of the activities we tried to work together on lowering a water bottle with eight strings and one platform. We almost didnât finish though, my group thought that we should put the strings up but that meant that some strings could be looser than others so the water bottle would always flip over. Finally our chaperone, my math teacher, told us to hold the strings out flat so they were level with the platform and then we could lower and higher the water bottle.
At the top of the summit, all of the groups put up a flag with all of our handprints on it. The view was good too. We took a picture of all of with the flag.(it took us a while though.)
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel honored because if you think about it we carried a stone that you chose to resemble somebody’s life. We were the ones to carry somebodys life up and down a mountain.
Sincerely,
Abby S
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that Daniel liked to play hockey and football(which are two of my favorite sports). I also learned that he enjoyed stock car racing. Another thing I learned is that he earned good grades in school. I found out that he died while dodging artillery fire and his vehicle fell into a ravine at age 33. He received a Maine Gold Star medal of honor for for dieing while serving for America.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. My group was the last to receive the stone, but we got to carry it down the entire mountain.
We each got a chance to hold the rock. It was very fun, and when it was my turn we were at the summit, so I got to carry it down the mountain.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. At the start of the hike we had to make shapes as a group with a rope while our eyes were closed. Then about halfway up the mountain we had to write five traits about ourselves and then shared three of them with the rest of the group. The other two cards were laid down on the ground and we had to pick three characteristics that we would want in a friend. At about the summit we asked each other if we had to pick a rock for ourselves where would we pick it from. Then around the bottom of the mountain we each held a string attached to a small platform on which we balanced a water bottle and had to raise it and lower it without the water bottle falling off. This was fun, and it helped our teamwork skills.
At the top of the summit, there was a beautiful view of Lake Winnipesaukee, and got to go inside the rock structure. We made an American flag using our handprints and took a picture with it. Everyone on the six white team was in the picture. It was a really neat experience.
As I reflect back on this experience,I feel happiness because hiking mountain with my friends was fun, but I feel even more proud because I got to have fun while honoring a veteran who fought to protect America. I would never have the guts to do that, but I’m glad that some people do. It makes my feel bad for the families that same lost other family members while they were serving.
Sincerely,
Thomas D.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that he had an amazing nickname, Lil Dan. He also shared a similar interest with me, which would be football. Football is one of my favorite sports, and a true joy to play. I also learned that he liked NASCAR and Box Car racing, and I find that kind of hobby incredibly cool.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. My group didnât start with the stone, until about a quarter of the way up, the first group that was carrying the stone passed it onto us. My classmate, Jack, started off with it, and as him being the leader of our group, carried it about another quarter of the way, before passing it off to another classmate, Griffin. At the summit, we passed the stone off to another group, who would bring it down the mountain.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. Personally, my favorite, was creating a song. Ourâs was by far the loudest, and didnât make a lot of sense. It sounded like a Military Chant in a way. Our group had someone, which happened to be myself, lead the song, while the rest echoed. Another fun activity was lowering a bottle of water to the ground using a tiny wooden platform and a few strings. That activity was difficult, but very fun.
At the top of the summit, we all rested, and ate lunch. While we were up there, we talked about Daniel and another soldier with a different group. We shared facts, and talked about how these wonderful men fought for our Country. After sharing about our soldiers, we got into a big group picture. We all held onto a huge flag, which we made with our handprints. It came out to look like an American Flag. After meeting up with our group one last time, we headed back down the mountain.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel so much pride. And I know that everyone who hiked up Mt. Major felt thankful and very grateful to be carrying up these stones, especially for soldiers, who fought for our country, and gave their lives for us. They wanted to honor us, and they sure did. I am not one for hiking, but I will hike a mountain for anyone who risked their lives for our country, and I especially will if someone died for us. Again, I want to say that I feel so much pride, and I feel so thankful.
Sincerely,
Anabelle T.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that he was caring and brave and went by âDan the Manâ. I learned that he enjoyed car racing and had a son named Connor who is about 23 now. Danielâs stone is from a race track in which he liked to spend his time. He was an SPC in the army. I also know that he had passed in Iraq in an artillery vehicle accident.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We hiked with Danielâs stone up the mountain to remind us of his bravery and strength. When we were struggling, we knew that if people like Daniel can fight for the freedom of a whole nation, we could climb up a mountain. We worked as a team to get to the summit while we honored your son.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. We balanced a water bottle on a piece wood attached to yarn, and each of us held a piece of it. We then picked the water bottle up, and then brought it back down. It took us a couple of tries, but eventually we did it. We also made a song of what we did that day. These activities helped us build teamwork. We had to work together to complete them, and I feel like they helped us become stronger as a group.
At the top of the summit, I felt proud of what I had done that day. I rested with my best friends, and took pictures of the beautiful view. We saw other mountains in the distance. We watched a ferry boat travel on the water below us, as the warm sun touched our skin and reflected off of the water. After that, we took a picture with your sonâs stone and sat by an American flag we had made with our hand prints. We then passed of the stone to another hiking group, so they could honor Daniel on the way down the mountain as we had up.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel honored to be a part of this, and honored to learn about Daniel and his courage. I am proud I got to the top of the mountain, because there were some parts I was struggling with. My group worked together to get to the top, and I am proud of our strength as a team. I feel that now after this experience, I have a better understanding and respect of Daniel and the brave heros like him.
Sincerely, Lainee S.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that he had a 11 year old son named Connor when he passed. He like hockey and football. He liked stock car racing. How you chose the rock from his favorite race track . We learned how when he got deployed he and hi wife got divorced, and how he got the rock from Oxford Plains Speedway . How he died from when he was trying to get away from the shootings and his vehicle rolled into ditch.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We paced the rock alone at each split on the way up. Group 1 placed it to us on the way up the mountain at the split. On the back down we paced the rock to group 9.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. The first one we did was we had a wood rectangle and there was about 9 strings and we put a water bottle on the wood block and we had to balance it on the block in order to get from the air to the ground then up again. We also had to create a song on the way down the mountain in order to get ice cream at Johnson’s Dairy Bar .
At the top of the summit, I felt very accomplished to get up the mountain. We had an amazing view of Lake Winnipesaukee, which was pretty cool to see considering how high up we were t it was still an amazing experience to have. It can truly be a once in a lifetime thing.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel very touched that you allowed us to basically take care of your son and giving us the privilege of having you trust us. We are very thankful you let us do this. đ
Sincerely,
Ava S.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that he liked stock car racing at Oxford Plains Speedway.
I like going there also and he liked football and hockey. I also like hockey and football.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried the stone because we did the summit project and got his stone. We carried the stone up the mountain with a bunch of other groups to honor him for serving for our country.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. For example, we had a board with a bunch of strings on it and had a water bottle on it and tried to lower it to the ground and pick it up all the way back up. We also used a different rope to make shapes as a group. We also had to write 5 traits about ourselves and choose 3 to say to each other.
At the top of the summit, we saw Lake Winnipesaukee and a bunch of islands, boats, roads, trees and a good fall view. We also saw a lot of woods and rivers. We also saw a lot of cairnâs.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel very grateful that we could carry your son Danielâs stone up Mt.Major and have him as our Summit Project stone.
Sincerely,
Jack D.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that,he served our country in Iraq,when he was a kid he used to play basketball,football and baseball,they also call himâDan the man.â He died when he was 33 in a accident in Iraq, also when he was a kid he had amazing grades he also won a gold medal star he also has a brother named Jim.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Danielâs picture as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain.First my group had the stone then after 5 minutes we would pass it on to another classmate then my group would meet with another group and pass it on to their group.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities, like make a shape with a rope, so our group would hold a rope and close our eyes and try to make a shape man it was hard we did these activities to work as a group and see what we can do as a group.
At the top of the summit, We saw a beautiful view. I saw the river and some islands;it was amazing.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel proud that I hiked Mt. Major for a soldier and I am so proud of Daniel to serve our country thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Cooper A.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that he was when he past away, he served in Iraq, and died from a vehicle accident while in war when he was 33 years old. He had one child, and he got divorced. I also learned some of his nicknames. One of them are, Dan the man.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. My group started with the rock and when we had it we took turns carrying the rock up. I felt proud to be the one to carry Daniel up.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. We did one where we had to close our eyes and try to make a shape. Another one was there was a bored and there was a water bottle on it and you had to try and raise it without it falling off. We did these activities because they wanted us to work together.
At the top of the summit, it was a beautiful view. Took a picture all together with a flag that we brought that had our hand prints on it. It was a special moment for us to make it to the top with the rocks and being all together.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel proud to be apart of the summit project and to hold up the rocks at the top. I felt grateful for having the rock to represent him and that he put his life out on the line for us. I was honored to have him with us on the hike.
Sincerely,
Ashlee D.
Dear Daniel Cunningham’s parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that his nickname was Lil Danny. He also died in a car crash in Afghanistan. He also loved stock car racing, hockey and football.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried the stone up the mountain to honor him.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. Our group did an activity where we had a water bottle and a small piece of wood with six strings attached. So what we did was we took the water bottle and put it on the piece of wood then we tried to bring it down to the ground and back up to where we started. We also did a activity where we wrote five adjectives about ourselves and shared them amongst the group. The point of the first activity was to balance the bottle. The second activity was to know the people in your group better.
At the summit, we saw great views and it was very awesome to be able to carry the stone up the mountain and honor him that way. There were three groups in the class so half way up the mountain we switched and then at the summit we switched again to the last group and they carried it down the mountain. I also loved doing one of my favorite things but being able to honor a veteran when doing that.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel very proud to be able to honor his life protecting us by carrying the rock up the mountain.
Sincerely,
Griffin M.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that he was 33 when he passed away, he fought in Iraq, that he got deployed, and that he passed away by trying to avoid artillery fire.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried the stone because we wanted to represent Daniel for fighting for us in the army. My group carried the stone all the way down the mountain. My friend, Grace and I took turns with it because a lot of parts of the mountain were steep and hard to climb down.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. We did one activity where we had to talk about if we lost our lives and where our families would get the stone from. I chose a lake where my family goes every summer. Another activity that we did was really hard. We had this board and there were strings attached to it. We had to lift it up with a water bottle on it by the strings and the water bottle had to balance there without falling off of the board. Also, we had to write down 5 words that represented us and we talked about them.
At the top of the summit, the view was really pretty. I took a lot of pictures. We had lunch on the top of the summit. After we all ate, the whole six white team took a picture. We were around a flag that we made with our hand prints. The flag was really cool.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel really happy that I participated in this project because I was honoring a person that lost his life by fighting for our country. I am really thankful that I could participate in this project and I would love to do it again.
Sincerely,
Brooke
Dear Daniel Cunningham parentâs,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that what age he died which was 33 his nickname when he was a kid was Dan the Man and what he was in the military.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried the stone because we wanted to honor Daniel for putting his life on the line for us. A way we passed the rock is another group passed the stone to us half way.Then we passed it on to another group at the top of the summit. And they brought his stone back down.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. Like this one where we had a water bottle and tried to balance it on this board attached with strings.We all had strings and tried to bring it to the ground it for some reason was hard.Then we wrote three things on a card that represents us and that made us unique. I learned that it is a struggle to balance a water bottle on a board.
At the top of the summit, we saw a beautiful lake trees with red, yellow and orange leaves on them. We handed the stone to the next group. The whole summit was rock all around which reminded me of Daniel because of the rock thinking back. And we had lunch up there it was nice.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel honored to be apart of this experience I learned so much about your son Daniel. I learned the sacrifices you and Daniel made. I thank you with everything for letting us carry this rock up the mountain. Thank you so much I would love to be apart of this again. Thank you again.
Sincerely.
Brady C.
Dear Daniel Cunninghamâs parents,
I am a sixth grade student at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. On October 11th, my classmates and I honored the late veteran Daniel Cunningham by carrying a memorial stone in his honor as we hiked Mt. Major on a field trip.
Before climbing, we researched Danielâs life. In my research, I learned that in Danielâs childhood he played football and hockey, that he had many nicknames such as Lil Dan , Dan-the-man and C-ham. I also learned that Daniel passed away at 33 by his vehicle falling into a ravine. I also learned that he got the Maine Gold Star award for his bravery.
On the day of the hike, we attached a picture of Daniel as well as a summary of his life on to our backpacks so we could keep him in mind throughout our day. We also carried the memorial stone the entire way up the mountain. We carried the stone to honor and give Daniel the remembrance that he most definitely deserved. Our group shared the stone by when the person wanted to share the stone they could pass it off to another person.
As we climbed, we participated in group activities. The 1st activity that we did was an activity that we had to make a specific shape with our eyes closed such as a triangle and square. The 2nd activity that we did was writing 5-6 word that describe ourselves and picking 3 of the most important and helpful traits for a team to get up a mountain safely and at the perfect speed. The 3rd activity that we did was a wooden board with strings attached to it and we had to lift a ½ full water-bottle up and then put it back down.
At the summit, the view was beautiful, and at first I was speechless you feel like you just accomplished something so important and you just feel so good about yourself. I felt proud to have carried the memory of Daniel to the summit of Mt.Major. The view of Lake Winnipesaukee was amazing.
As I reflect back on this experience, I feel like we each did a small part to remember a man that had such a great legacy.
Sincerely,
Luci S.
Dearest Family of Army SPC Daniel J Cunningham, it was an honor and a privilege to carry the stone and the story of Dan The Man Cunningham at TSP BSP 2017 Base Camp. I think Studly Dan would appreciate this part of my experience; as I was preparing to learn about Dan I was printing off his bio and his picture. One of my co-workers happened to be at the printer when I picked up his picture, when she saw his picture she said, “What a handsome man.” This goes to show his smile is still infectious. After all the stones had been place on display at Base Camp as I was taking pictures of the heroes’ stones and that smile caught my eye! I did not know what his stone looked like but that smile stood right out. When I first picked up his stone I was nervous about how heavy it was. There is truly something special, magical that happened when the stone was placed in my pack; the weight seemed to disappear The stone felt like a hug against my back. At one point on Sunday morning I needed to take some time for self reflection as I was struggling with something on my mind. I gone down to the end of the point carrying Dan with me. It was such a serene setting with the water so still and a fog hanging in the distance hiding the mountains beyond. I chatted to myself and Dan about what my purpose was at base camp. I was there to serve and honor the families and the fallen; I had not forgotten this I was just letting myself get distracted for a moment about something I had no control over. I was reminded about bringing comfort and positivity with my presence and to not let this moment of distraction take away from this duty. Each time I carry a stone I have explored deeper into myself, I am touched in some way by each one and continue to grow. Dan reminded me of the power of a smile, the joy it can spread to those who see it. Thank you Army Specialist Daniel J Cunningham for gracing me with your smile and spirit.
Maine Heroes Are Not Forgotten.
PJ (Belle) Laney
Dear parents of Daniel Cunningham,
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 Daniel
“It was a privilege to carry SGT Cunningham’s stone today to the top of Table Rock. I’m proud that this program exists and that I can be a part of it. Carrying SGT Cunningham today was different at times especially seeing the similarities between Daniel, myself, and my family. I grew up and went to Oxford Plains Speedway. I have been to Lewiston many times and now work in the city. The big thing that really connected was the similarities between Daniel and my dad. They both joined the army later, after divorces, and were the ‘old guys’ at basic. They were both in Iraq the same year. I thank SGT Cunningham for his service and sacrifice”.
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.
Hello everyone my name is Chris Douphinett and on october 15th i had the honor and privilage of carrying the memory and the story of SGT Daniel Francis Cunningham Jr. I didnt learn an aweful lot about this hero but the things i did learn showed me how much of an amazing human being he was. he was a big family man and loved his racing. i think the only two things he loved more than racing was his family and his country.(in that order). I wish i had the opportunity to shake his had and thank him for all that hes done for our country. It was a genuine privilage to carry his stone at Acadia. To his family, if you’re reading this i want you to know he is a hero and i was honored to carry on his memory.
Army Spc. Daniel Cunningham, a Lewiston native, grew up loving sports. Especially Nascar. He had a son, making his son the firstborn of the firstborn. Much like my son. Dan was always having friends over, playing sport and goofing around and was still able to keep his grades up.
In Danielâs free time he would spend much time with his younger brother. Daniel also loved to visit The Oxford Speedway, which is where his rock came from.
On November 10, 2017 I had the honor of carrying Daniel J Cunningham up the Blue Hill Mountain. On the day of the hike the mid 20s, low 30s. When we arrived at the top of the mountain the wind was gusting and was extremely cold. But when we got in our circle and started to share our soldiers stories none of that mattered. Each and everyone of the soldiers were on top of that mountain with us. Following the hike was a 4-mile veterans run in Ellsworth. Although 4-miles was tough carrying the weight of Danielâs stone reminded me why we were doing it, and it was because of him, and all the other brave individuals willing to risk their lives to allow us to live our lives how we want.
Daniel passed away on April 4, 2003 when his vehicle crashed into a ravine.
This is truly an experience that will not leave me, as long as I live his memory will not be forgotten.
Levi Soper
Dearest family of Daniel F. J. Cunningham and the Summit Project~
Daniel F.J. Cunningham made the greatest sacrifice for his country with his life. To honor the memory of “C Ham” (a name given from his military brothers) by carrying a beautiful piece of granite chosen especially for him by his family was a true honor.
As a parent who has also lost a child, I understand exactly what the Summit Project means to a family.. a parent, son, brother, aunt or friend who may share precious memories of a loved one lost to those of us who start as strangers but leave this experience as family. How blessed are those of us who have been fortunate enough to be entrusted with all the love and memories represented in the form of a hand picked stone.
Hiking the south ridge of Cadillac is something I have done many times through my life but this trip will forever be embedded into my memory. To be trusted with everything that the stone of “Dan the Man” represented… his life, his fight for our country and his passing have been nothing short of impactful. Knowing that I wasn’t alone on my trek this last weekend but that so many others were on this very same journey, all of us making a difference in our own lives and the families of the fallen. To honor, to respect, and to never forget but rather keeping a candle lit ..lighting the memories is the one gift we can give back to those whos lives have been cut short while serving in the military of our country.
SPC Daniel F.J. Cunningham had no idea the impact he would leave on perfect strangers when his life was cut short at the age of 33 on April 4, 2003 in Iraq. Brother, father, husband, son, friend and after his passing.. a teacher to others who, because of love of his country, Daniel’s life was sacrificed. Those of us that have been blessed with a still shot of this man’s life will forever remain a bit more humbled.
Reunited with his mother, Nancy, Daniel continues to smile.
God Bless. Robin G.
To the friends and family of SPC Daniel Cunningham,
I had the honor and privilege to carry Specialist Daniel Cunnignham’s stone up Pemetic and Cadillac mountain for the Maine Summit Project. Learning about Specialist Cunningham, his experiences, and the decisions he made were profoundly interesting to me. His decision to join the ARMY at an older age was no easy choice. He could of easily chosen any profession when he was in between jobs, but decided to serve the United States, and her people in the most challenging career field in the world. As a Soldier.
Specialist Cunnigham’s rough housing as a child, love for sports, a thrill for racing at the Oxford speedway, and working as hard as the economy would let him, makes him the quintessential Mainer. Add in his service to the country and Specialist Cunnigham was the quintessential American. The Summit Project’s motto “MHANF” (Maine Heroes Are Not Forgotten) truly reflects Specialist Cunnigham and his life. A true Mainer, a true American, and a true man. His story being very relatable in a lot of ways to the average Mainer. Except his defining decision to become a hero by serving his country. Specialist Cunningham defined himself through his life decisions and I was more than honored to carry his stone in his memory. He will always be immortalized as an American Soldier, a warrior, and a member of team. Who took an oath to serve the people of the United States, and lived the ARMY values.
Most Respectfully,
Ryan Graffam
May 30,2021 I had the honor of carrying Daniel’s stone on a 16 mile hike around Portland and South Portland as part of a “Ruck to Remember”. It certainly will be a day I will remember. It was cold and rainy! Spirits were high as we set off. People spoke of the soldiers they were hiking with. At the half way point, we gathered to share the stories of the heroes we were chosen to carry. I felt a connection to Daniel as I stepped forward to share his story. It turns out we were born the same year. The fact that I’ve been given the chance to live almost 20 years longer than he was made me wonder just what a difference he would have made in those years. While he was fighting for our country, I was able to raise my children and now have been blessed with 3 beautiful grandbabies. I hope that if I carry his stone for the ANP hike I will be able to learn more about Daniel and to be able to meet his Gold Star family members. I am honored to have been a part of this journey in order to keep Daniel in the minds and hearts of others.
I was honored to have been able to once again carry Daniel’s stone on the hike in ANP. It seems we are destiny to hike together in unpleasant weather. The threat of thunderstorms caused us to scrap the hike up Cadillac and instead we hiked to Echo Lake beach. It was a soggy hike but when we got to the beach the sun came out and shined on us for the entire circle ceremony. As usual it was a tear-filled emotional sharing of stories. Daniel and I were born the same year so it is humbling to see just how different his life could be if he were able to enjoy his midlife with his family. He will always be in my heart and mind.
I had the honor and privilege of carrying the stone and sharing the story of Army SPC Daniel F.J. Cunningham on Memorial Day weekend 2023.
The entire weekend was full of remembrance. Everyone that I talked with that wasn’t familiar with Dan’s story was eager for me to share.
The day of the hike was a hot and humid 90 degree day. My group set out on the River Pond Trail prepared for a hot hike with a high chance of mosquitoes and black flies. And while the hike was hot and the stones were heavy, we were blessed with a breeze coming off Millinocket Lake, keeping the bugs mostly at bay. No matter how hot or how heavy my pack got, it was nothing compared to what Dan and rest of the men and women who have lost their lives endured. I won’t ever forget hearing all of the fallen heroes’ stories from Team Gold with Mount Katahdin in full view.
I feel like I would have been friends with Dan if I had known him. The way his mom describes his sense of humor reminds me a lot of mine and my friends. He was a devoted friend and soldier and loved his family immensely. And his mom was right, he did have a great smile.
I hope all who knew and loved Dan are at ease knowing that 20 years later, Dan’s name is still being said, he’s being remembered. Maine Heroes Are Never Forgotten!
Sincerely,
Kristine Belyea
To the family of Army Specialist Daniel FJ Cunningham,
Thank you for the honor of allowing me to represent the memory of Daniel in this year’s summit project. My name is pastor Chris Dwelle of Victory Biker Church and I carried Daniel’s memory stone for the whole ride.
I spent about two weeks learning about him and reading exactly how much his friends, family, and fellow service members loved and respected him. This experience brought to the front of my mind the men and women who fight and sometimes die for my freedom to do what I do every day.
I got to spend 465 miles praying for you and this family and feel like Daniel is now part of who I am. I will let you know that his memory will live on as I tell his story.
Thank you for sharing him with me in this very special way.
I had the honor of carrying Daniel’s stone on a hike through Wolfe’s Neck Farm State Park. I am a family member of someone who works at L.L. Bean and they are currently displaying the memorial case containing some of the stones in the Order Fulfillment Center. Their Veteran’s EBRG took time in their workday to hike around the State Park and I was honored to join them. For most of us, this was our first time being involved with this project, but it won’t be the last.
After our hike, we each took a turn sharing with the group some things we learned about the person whose stone we carried. By doing this, we heard everyone’s story so no one will be forgotten.
When my girlfriend heard how Daniel’s stone came from Oxford Plains Speedway, she mentioned that her dad would take her every year to the Oxford 250 every year for her birthday growing up. We now have that connection to Daniel, and he will never be forgotten.
Big hugs to Daniel’s family and friends.
To the family of US Army SPC Daniel F.J. Cunningham,
On September 23, 2023 I had the honor of carrying Dan’s stone and story on a spirit hike to Echo Lake at the Summit Project Acadia National Park event. A small group of base camp volunteers and Gold Star Family members enjoyed a beautiful walk to the lake, carrying all of the hero stones that did not make the trek up Cadillac Mountain.
When I went to the table to select a stone my eyes immediately fell on Dan’s stone. I know the story of Dan’s sacrifice well, as I was honored to have carried it over 7 years ago at the Tough Ruck event. In that time much has changed – I am now very involved with The Summit Project, currently service as the Family Liaison for the organization. My kids have grown so much – one more than half way through college, the other now in High School. But my connection to Dan’s story and his sacrifice remain constant.
Dan and I were born in the same year – and I’ve thought about that often. During our circle testimony at Echo Lake I shared this as well as the fact that he entered the service later than most men. I was so happy to be able to walk a few more miles with his stone and share his name and story with our small group. Together we made sure that every hero with a Summit Project stone was remembered and their names spoken.
Thank you for continuing to allow appreciative participants like myself the honor of learning about Dan – his life, his character and his sacrifice.
-Mark LoSacco
On August 10th 2024 I was blessed with the opportunity to bring Daniel F. J. Cunningham on the Ruck for the Fallen 10K. It was truly an honor to be able represent a fellow service member that lost his life in service. I have to say thank you for allowing this representation of SGT Cunningham to be used in the Summit Project so that the legacy of our fallen can live on through those that honor them in these events. I hope that gives you ease when you hear about them still being carried on by fellow service members and representatives and I truly am sorry for your lose.