23 of Portland, Maine; assigned to the 133rd Engineer Battalion, Army National Guard, Gardiner, Maine; killed April 20 when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq.
To honor SGT Christopher D. Gelineau, his father, John Gelineau retrieved this stone from the University of Maine campus in Gorham, Maine where SGT Gelineau earned an honorary degree.  Approximate weight â 11 lbs.
Watch this video to learn why this stone is significant and what it says about SGT Christopher D. Gelineau.
51 Comments
Remember this well ..Still visit the graves and I will never forget him. I always called him baby as a nick name and Lavy and Chris were a super couple ,very much in love and now they are together again. RIP to them..Judy Dix
Chris’s birthday today…Iulia and I lit a candle this morning which will burn all day. Brought fresh flowers to the cemetery, from Iulia’s garden, grown with love for Chris and Lavi. Your in our minds and hearts always.
John & Iulia Gelineau
Think about you every day Lavi.
Adam
My husband and I had the honor and pleasure of carrying Chris’s stone on our bike as part of the Patriot Rider convoy. I knew Chris personally from his deployment with the 133rd and attended his services. I would love to get in touch with you Mr. Gelineau. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
I want to thank you for letting me have the privilege and honor of carrying Christopher’s stone an helping keep his memory alive. I will NEVER forget this experience. God bless you all.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing
this write-up and the rest of the website is also very good.
Dear Mr. Gelineau,
I had the privilege of carrying/caring for your son, SGT Christopher D. Gelineauâs stone on June 20, 2014 during the GORUCK Challenge in Portland, ME.
The GORUCK Challenge is an endurance event led by cadre who are active duty or retired from Special Operations across various branches of the military. During the event each participant is required to wear a ruck (backpack) that weighs about 40 lbs and traverse more than 20 miles over 12+ hours. We also must carry a team weight that is a minimum of 25 lbs. To comprise our team weight we had the honor of carrying several memorial stones for the Summit Project. While I was the official care taker of your sonâs stone, each member of our team carried his memorial with them at one point during our event. One team, one fight.
I found it fitting to be paired with Chris, a lover of technology and the endless pursuit of knowledge. I felt connected to Chris and could see myself in his shoes. In truth, very small decisions separate my life from that of Chrisâ. I thought about that a lot during the 13+ hours and 20+ miles of our Challenge.
Your son sacrificed everything in service to our country and I was honored to be part of his living memorial. I hope to live my life with as much courage and selflessness as he did.
Thank you,
Jeremy Bonaventura
John Bagley Hiker: TSP at Acadia National Park
Dear Mr. Gelineau,
I had the honor and privilege of carrying your sonâs memorial stone with me as I hiked up Cadillac Mountain on 10/4/14. This was a Summit Project hike and there were 80 hikers. Four teams of 20 ascended the mountain and at the summit we talked about the soldier we were carrying.
I learned from your video and some other research I had done that Chris was always willing to help out someone. During the hike I tried to be helpful to my teammates just as Chris would have done.
This hike will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first TSP outing. It will NOT be my last TSP hike though. I am committed to seeing this project grow and get better. As it does, Chris nor any of the other fallen heroes will ever be forgotten.
Although I didn’t get to meet you and âreturnâ the stone to you, I did get to meet several other families who had lost a loved one. I was overwhelmed with emotions when I was âthankedâ for carrying a stone. I hope I get to meet you someday. Until then, know that Chris will be on my mind everyday and I will try to honor his life by living mine to the fullest.
Sincerely,
John P. Bagley
Dear Gelineau Family,
I had the honor of carrying Christopher’s rock up Bradbury mountain with some of my classmates from school. Many students from Edward Little High School went on this hike as a part of the Summit Project. Although Mother Nature wasn’t on our side that day, every hiker learned a very important lesson.
While climbing the mountain I often felt myself thinking about my brother who is a veteran. From watching your video, I learned that Christopher and my brother have a lot in common. My brother would have been grateful to meet your son, as would I. At the top of the mountain while I was listening to my classmates talk about their soldiers, I realized hiking the mountain with Christopher’s rock in my hands helped me learn that there is more to the rock. The rock is just a small sample of the sacrifice our soldiers make when they go to war.
Christopher’s service and courage will never be forgotten. Learning about your son and carrying his rock while hiking the snowy mountain wasn’t only for us to learn a lesson. It was also to honor the fallen and the ones currently serving. I will never forget this experience as it taught me the real sacrifice our soldiers make every day.
Respectfully,
Karli Stubbs
Dear Friends and Family,
Christopher Gelineau was a member of the Maine Army National Guard, the first member of the Maine Army National Guard to be killed in the Iraq war. His death was just outside of Mosul on April 20, where the convoy he was traveling in was attacked and exploded. Christopher was only 23 when he died, but he had accomplished much more than most of us will by that age. Through his journey of serving for this country, he was awarded with a Purple Heart and Bronze star medal, along with being promoted to Sergeant.
Christopher was loved by not only the people he grew up with, but by the soldiers who fought by his side. His funeral was held at the University of Southern Maine. 400 attended the service, along with 100 of the Maine Army National Guard who he had worked with. Christopher’s service was well recognized and he was a very respected part of the National Guard.
Carrying the rock with his name engraved, along with my classmates, helped me to realize the weight he had to carry through his journey in the Army. It helped represent the exhaustion and fight he had to go through to get to his destination. Not only did the trip to Bradbury help me to understand his perspective but also helped me to understand the effect it must have had on his loved ones. When we got to the top and shared the things we had learned about our assigned soldiers, it made us all realize that they were real people and they fought and served for us. It made us understand that these are individual people who fought for us and who their loved ones had lost. It was an honor to learn about Christopher and other handfuls of soldiers have effected our country in such a positive way.
Sincerely,
Brittany Strout
To the friends and family of Christopher D. Gelineau,
On November fourteenth, I had the privilege to carry Chris’s stone up Bradbury mountain. Walking up the mountain gave me a new perspective on looking at things. I saw what it was like to properly honor someone.
I never knew Chris personally, but after watching the video I saw how great of a person he was. It made me think how sad it was to think that a good person died too soon. He had so much potential, a wife, a bright future. He’s that person everyone wants to be and hopes to be.
I also learned how to appreciate how everyday people are sacrificing their lives for their country, and for us, for our freedom. I will never forget this experience, and I will never forget Christopher.
He left sooner than he should have, but he will always be remembered. We will continue to honor him. Chris Gelineau will never be forgotten.
Sincerely,
Meghan DubĂŠ
Tommy Dostie and Chris Gelineau both were in the 133rd engineering battalion with my dad Todd Crawford when they got deployed to Mosul Iraq in 2004. They are the reason I participated in The Summit Project. They are the reason I can eat dinner with my dad every night. To them I am grateful and to them, I owe everything.
Starting this project I didnât know exactly what I was getting myself into, and I didnât know the emotions that would be brought up. Immediately I knew my dad needed to participate in this hike with me. The days leading up to the hike I got very nervous, I knew my dad has PTSD and I didnât know if the hike was going to trigger anything. My dad was very close to both Tommy and Chris which just made everything more emotional and nerve wracking. When we got to the high school the emotions started, tears when I saw the rocks, nerves while looking at my dad, nerves hoping I can help take grief from the family. While hiking there was so much laughing between my dad and me; he told me stories about both Tommy and Chris. The stone wasnât on my mind so much, it was almost as if the stone didnât exist. While hiking it felt like Tommy and Chris were there with us and that they werenât just stones.
Itâs like, I could feel the grief leave the families shoulders and fall on mine. The rock got heavier and heavier the more I hiked the mountain, and I loved it. I know the weight of the rock didnât actually change, but it felt like it and it made me feel like I was doing something right. Getting to the top of the mountain was a breath of fresh air, literally. It was as if all of the trouble and pain shared with everyone who lost a soldier went away for a few minutes. During the ceremony at the summit, listening to everyone talk about yet another lost loved one was hard. I felt so blessed to be able and grab my dadâs hand knowing he was so close to not coming home. I was blessed; blessed to have my dad home safe, blessed to be able to carry Tommy and Chris, blessed to know that they are at peace.
Speaking while holding Tommyâs rock, a heaviness overcame me. All I could think about was how Tommy and many other deaths could have been prevented. How if one person said the bomber wasnât a soldier, Tommy could still be alive. I carried Chrisâs rock down the mountain and it was as if I was carrying two people. Chris and his wife both knew my father and so while I was carrying Chrisâs rock, I was carrying her with me too. All I could think about was that it could have been my dad that I was carrying.
My dad ate lunch at the same time Tommy did the day he died. My dadâs friend had a gut feeling something was wrong and rushed him and a few others out of the dining tent. Right as they got across the street the suicide bomber set the bomb off. Although I didnât know Chris, his big heart will be the one thing I remember most about him. Chris was selfless; he wasnât suppose to be on the mission he was on; he was suppose to be asleep. One of the guys in Chrisâs group just got back from a mission when he got word he had to leave again. Chris told him he would take that mission for him so he could get some sleep that night. The worst part about this story is Chris knew something was going to go wrong. He knew that he was risking his life to make other people at peace. I guess thatâs part of the reason you join the army, sacrifice for the people you care about, but not everyone can do it. These two men will be in my heart forever; they were a huge loss not only to their families but also to the State of Maine and the United States army.
The Summit Project is something I would like more people to participate in; I think that people should sacrifice an afternoon of their lives to show gratitude and appreciation to men and women who sacrificed their lives for us. I am eternally grateful to Mr. Cote and everyone else who is involved with the Summit Project. My dad opened up about his war experience, and I was able to be there in a way Iâve never been able to before. Listening, connecting, understanding; Tommy and Chris helped my dad nine years after he got back from war just because of this project.
On April 18 — Rodney Mondor wrote —
I was able to carry the honor stone of Sgt. Christopher Gelineau on March 6, 2015 for the USM TSP event. It was initially an opportunity to honor the memory of a great student and leader, but during the ruck it became so much more. I did not realize how powerful the experience would be for me and those around me and I have to say after all these years, Chris continues to leave a lasting impression.
Chris was one of the first students to sign up and volunteer to be a Pack Leader for a new program I started on the Gorham Campus. All new students were moving in two days early and campus programs would take place throughout the two days. The intent was to assign Pack Leaders to certain residence hall floors and have them be responsible for moving in and herding the group to the weekend events. It was a program with no history and with 600 new students moving in, a challenge to manage.
Immediately, I knew Chris was the man for the job. Not only did he do what was asked of him, he did it with a smile. Now on the flip side, Chris did not want to be the one standing in front of the entire group and talking or sharing his story, he wanted to just work with his assigned group of students, and make sure they were taken care of while participating in the program. He was a quiet leader. A leader by example.
After all this time, the one thing that always stood out, is seeing that smile on Chrisâs face, even after our 10 hour+ days and his willingness to stay and help finish up when others were going to bed. But that was Chris. A guy who gave of himself to care for and make life easier for others.
On April 20th, I remember watching the news when they announced another solider from Maine had died and when I saw his face and that smile, I was devastated. But life continues and we move on with work and our own personal duties. I was not able to attend the memorial on campus and continued to work with the current students in dealing with their grief, while ignoring mine.
So on March 6th I figured it was the âright thing to doâ and asked to carry Chrisâs stone. Of course, it was the right thing, but in more ways than I had expected. I carried Chris Gelineauâs stone because he represented the qualities of a person that everyone should strive to be. He is positive, caring, giving and unselfish. It was important that the current students knew about a USM student who led by example, in hopes they would be inspired to follow that way of life. What I did not realize was the emotional connection I would make by holding his stone in my hand and walking around Portland.
A connection of remembering Chris as the pack leader. Remembering Chris working with other students. Remembering Chris and his smile. But also remembering April 20, 2004 and what I failed to do then and was finally able to do nowâŚsay good bye. And, now I will never forget and try to live my life by his example. Thank you Christopher and keep smiling.
On 28 April, 2015, Spencer Smoot wrote —
I carried Chrisâs stone in the Zimmerman challenge. The Zimmerman challenge is a physical course that honors 1st LT Zimmerman died in Afghanistan Nov. 2 2010 that takes place at the University of Maine.
I was a medic in the Army; I served from 2006 to 2011, which included a tour of Iraq from 08-09. When it comes to fallen solders people talk about honor and sacrifice, but as a medic I hate these words, because it means that one of my kind has fallen. I know in war many things are out of my control, but there will always be guilt. Thankfully during my deployment I did not have to treat any American soldiers, but in that same breath I felt that there was no one looking out for us, which caused me to lose much of my faith. For me that was my natural reaction to seeing the horrors of war.
Contrary to my military background I have not worked out since 2011; I decided to do the Zimmerman challenge because I wanted challenge myself. I did it because I knew that the people that I went to Iraq with wouldnât want me to sit around a get fat.
Truthfully, I didnât show up to carry SGT Gelineauâs stone; I didnât know the soldier nor his story. I showed up for all of the people that died since my involvement in the US military; the people I knew and the people I didnât know. SGT Gelineauâs stone was the symbol, the âspiritâ of the fallen for me. During the challenge there were many times of which I asked, âWhy am I doing this? Why am I carrying a 35 pound medic bag with an 11 pound stone?â But I kept going because I realized that I would not â and could not â want it any other way. I am living my life the way I want â not drowning in sorrow â because that is what I know that all of the fallen would want; that was what they sacrificed for. That is what I would want if I didnât make it back.
I know I am tardy getting this written to you but I wanted to spend a year with Christopher. It happened to be April 20th when I started researching about your son last spring; 10 years from the day he left this earth. I was struck at how young this boy was and how much he has done in his short time. How he served his country with honor, was promoted to Sergeant, earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals, and how he had found the love of his life at such a young age.
It was a beautiful spring day the day I received his stone. I brought him into work with me and printed off information about him. Several people came by to talk about him and ask questions. One co-worker remembered him from her college days. She mentioned she had gone to his funeral at Evergreen Cemetery off Stevenâs Ave in Portland. I asked her if she could tell me where in the cemetery he was, she could only remember going in and taking a left and he was in the back. I had seen a photo of his beautiful gravestone online and set out to find him at lunch. I rode my motorcycle into the cemetery and stopped at the office to get directions. Of course they were at lunch too. So off I went, to the left and towards to back. I stopped and asked a couple if they had ever seen a heart shaped stone. Their reply was yes there are several but they walk there every day and couldnât remember where. I continued on and asked another lady walking a dog and got the same response.
I looked to the budding trees and said âOk Spirits⌠guide meâ. I drove forward and after a few short minuets spotted his gravestone with the beautiful red roses you must have left there for the anniversary of his death. I stood at his grave and could feel the love that was there all around. My research told me of his beautiful wifeâs tragic death a year after Chrisâs. My one thought was that they were no longer apart; together, loving for eternity. As I turned to leave the cemetery, I spotted the flag pole over my shoulder. I turned to give my pledge of allegiance and a breeze picked up to wave the flag that had been completely still until that point. I still feel the soldiers all around me pledging along with me.
I carried Chrisâs stone during the Patriot Riders of America Maine Chapter One Spring Ride for the Troops 2014 and for several weeks after. He went on rides with my boyfriend and me. He went to dinner and sat at the table with us. I would tell his story to everyone who asked. When the replica Vietnam Wall came to Scarborough, I found his tag on the tribute wall. I feel as if I knew Chris and am blessed to have been able to be a part of this amazing tribute to your son. He will never be forgotten.
Sincerely,
Lisa Simmons
Patriot Riders of America Maine Chapter One
Dear Gelineau family and friends,
My name is Caitlin Burchill and I had the honor of hiking with Chris’ memorial stone during TSP’s Baxter State Park Memorial Day Weekend Tribute Trek 2015.
I was assigned Chris’ stone the night before the hike. Upon returning to the lodge, I wanted to read more about this brave 23-year-old taken from the world way too soon. Unfortunately, my cell phone/internet service was not great in Millinocket. I was unable to stream the video of Mr. Gelineau talking about his son. Fortunately, I was able to view the comments underneath the video. There I read that Chris really enjoyed commuters and technology. It gave me a chuckle and made me think somewhere Chris was laughing about this ironic situation. I’m sure he would have known exactly how I could have gotten the video to play for me.
Just from the website comments, I noted Chris’ intelligence, wisdom, passion for life, and his ability to lead by example. I was also struck by his huge heart and his ability to love. Even at such a young age, it seems like Chris really met his soulmate. Their love seemed so beautiful and strong. This is something I will always remember. Chris has inspired me to strive for that type of love in my life.
As I hiked to the almost 4,000 foot high peak of the Owl trail in Baxter State Park, Chris was constantly on my mind. The weight of his stone in my pack reminded me of the sacrifice he made for me and our country. Chris accomplished more than I ever will. I strive to be as brave, strong, and loving as he was. During the trek, I also thought about his beautiful wife who was also taken from the world too soon. They will always have a place in my heart.
Thank you for this honor. Chris’ life, sacrifice, and memory will never be forgotten.
Best,
Caitlin Burchill
Closer to HeavenâŚ
Dear Gelineau Family,
My name is Margaret Boothby, and this past Memorial Weekend I had an honor to share and carry Chrisâs story and one of his memorial stones to the top of the Owl Peak in the beautiful wilderness of the Baxter State Park. It was my first memorial hike with The Summit Project, and truthfully, no words can really describe the waves of thoughts and heartfelt feelings that were pouring in and out of my mind during this inspiring weekend. Weekend full of symbolism, emotions, and memories for years to come.
First, it was a powerful feeling to receive Chrisâs stone the night before the hike, as now, in a flash, I could see him, his warm smile I saw on the picture, his life, his sacrifice, and everything that I learned about him in the weeks preceding the hike. It felt as if I met him in person right there and then. His stone now became my companion. Companion I could not really talk to, but through which I felt like I was connected with Chris telepathically through meditation connecting the world of the living and the world of those who have passed.
Early Sunday morning, as we set out to the Owl greeted by light rain, I felt a considerable degree of nervousness about the hike with a stone in my pack, but with soon to be clearing sky and sun rays showing their light, the emotions of excitement about being able to meaningfully pay tribute to Chris and other fallen soldiers took over. As the team began ascending to the top, there were times of conversations, getting to know each other, some laughter even, but also of some quiet time, especially as soon as the rocks began to be steeper, and talking while carrying the weight of our bag packs became a little more challenging. I was happy about that, as for me the beauty and peace of the surrounding wilderness inspired and allowed for some thinking and some meditating about the significance of what it was that I was doing on that day. At this point I no longer cared about the weight of the stone, enjoying the physical challenge and realizing that it was only a minute fraction of what Chris must have carried and what he went through. I thought to myself about the nice irony of how we, volunteer hikers, donât really choose the stones, but rather how the stones choose and gravitate towards us, allowing us to see the connections between ourselves and the fallen soldiers after the fact. I recalled how odd it seemed to me when at the TSP USM ceremony in March I found out that Chrisâs wife was also from Europe, and that a few years back I had heard about her tragic death from my own friends who knew her and of her. It was another flash in my mind, as I remembered standing there in shock realizing that in few months time I would be carrying her husbandâs stone with the Summit Project. Like me Chris was a student at USM, and like me he loved technology, though my technical skills in computers could not even be compared to his. In mental preparation for sharing his story at the top of the mountain, I also thought about his character, a personality of a quiet leader by example with no intent to ever seek recognition, and his helpful spirit, best exemplified by a favor paid to a friend that ultimately cost him his life. The story shared by Mr. Gelineau in the video of Chris designing a computer program for his high school maintenance crew to keep the inventory of supplies brought smile each time I thought about it, as it showed his good heart and selfless nature at such a young age.
It is that helpful spirit and attitude that had my thoughts drift away towards reflections in terms of long lasting hopes for peace and saving human life in conflict resolutions around the world, and there are two things that account for that, despite how distant they may seem on the surface. One is the fact that I grew up in the country that had suffered unimaginable losses during World War II, of which spiritual and physical toll could be felt for decades after, and because of which the remembrance of that time is still strongly accentuated today. The second is the fact that my studies in theory of translation have given me an incredible insight into the natural complexities of human communication and challenges that come with it due to linguistic and cultural differences, which become only more complicated when it comes to conflict resolutions around the world. And so, I was thinking and hoping that genuine willingness to help that Chris displayed in his life, true and in-depth understanding, and reasoning is what guides those who make the ultimate decisions, before resorting to the warfare.
Finally, as we got closer to the peak of the Owl, with the howling wind almost riding our hats away into the open air and each of us getting mentally ready for sharing the stories of our soldiers, conversations gradually winded down. At the top we lined up the stones and gathered around them in what turned out to be an emotional ceremony of paying tribute and remembering the lives, the service and the ultimate sacrifice of our soldiers, culminated by a beautiful prayer spoken by Gold Star Father, Mr. Zimmerman. For a split second the ceremony brought my memories of Remembrance Days back in Poland when I was a child, spent on prayers at the cemeteries glowing from millions of lit up candles that families bring to remember their loved ones as a symbol of their life. No candle would ever work on top of the Owl, however, to me being there brought an entirely different and extremely powerful dimension to remembering and connecting with the soldiers whose stones we carried. At an altitude of 3600 feet up in the air, with the horizon giving in to the round shape of Mother Earth beneath us, it undeniably felt like we were all spiritually and physically closer⌠closer to Chris, closer to other soldiers, and closer to Heaven where they all are today, hoping that they could hear and see us, as we thanked them for their service, remembered their stories, and made sure they know that their ultimate sacrifice would never be forgotten.
Sincerely,
Margaret E. Boothby
I had the honor of carrying Sgt. Gelineau’s stone as part of the 2nd Annual Wilderness Walk for Warriors. We traveled approximately 120 miles in under 10 days of hiking, concluding with a ceremony at the summit of Mt. Katahdin in order to honor and pay respect to several individuals who gave their lives serving in either military or law enforcement and to recognize their sacrifice. I selected Sgt. Gelineau’s stone because he served in the 133rd Engineer BN, in which I am actively serving. I felt very compelled to hike in his memory and pay tribute to a fellow Engineer. RIP SGT. Gelineau, we miss you, but you are not forgotten!
Dear Gelineau Family,
I had the honor and privilege of carrying Christopher’s stone during the First Annual Aaron Henderson 5K Memorial Run on August 8, 2015 in Houlton, Maine.
His memory will live on. God bless your family!
Respectfully,
Jen
Today, I had the honor of carrying Christopher D. Gelineauâs stone and his memory during the final Run for the Fallen in Maine. This morning I was overcome with so many emotions; emotions of joy and sadness, comfort which I found in the company of so many great families. But above all was the profound sense of pride I felt knowing just how many great men and women have fought for our country and all they have ever believed in. It only seemed fitting that we set off on this trek together. Chris has been such a large part of this community and he has impacted me and my life in so many ways since his passing.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for 10 years, I decided it was time to return to school and achieve an education at the University of Southern Maine. It was here that I first learned of Chrisâ story and viewed firsthand just how many lives he has impacted over the course of his lifetime. Chris has become such an immense part of this USM community. A decade after his passing, it is still commonplace to hear people continue to talk about him from day to day, week to week. He is remembered as a silent leader who led by his own example. Stories continue to be shared about his selfless character and strong desire to help others; traits that we could all wish to portray in ourselves. Chris succeeded in doing just that, and in his success he inspired so many others to walk in the very footprints he left behind for us. He inspired me to do the same.
And I thought about this as I trekked the 3.1 miles with his stone in my pack. My family walked by my side and shared the great honor. Facing my final year at USM, I thought about how close he was to completing his degree here as well. I thought about the very first time I stepped foot upon a school campus in over 10 years and how that very campus was the origin of the stone I was carrying with me today. I thought about how humbled I have become knowing just how many people a single person can impact, both during their lifetime and the time left thereafter. The honor of carrying forth Chrisâ memory lies not only with me during the trek, but with a community every day of our continued lives. Thank you Chris for continuing to impact us all even today. Thank you for teaching us and inspiring us to lead by our own example. Thank you for putting everyoneâs needs so prominently before your own. It is an honor for us all to live by the example who have set forth in front of us. This world and this community is a much better place for all you have ever done.
To the Gelineau family,
On September 26, 2015, I had the privilege of carrying the stone of your son Christopher D. Gelineau on a walk from the Maine Veteransâ Home in Bangor to the University of Maine campus. Participants included fellow veterans and members of UMaineâs Army and Navy ROTC programs alongside relatives and friends of former and currently serving military members.
Christopherâs passing at 23 years of age emphasizes for me the loss of skill, talent and potential that he gave on behalf of citizens of his community, our state, and country. It is so regretful that his life was cut short. He would have made other extraordinary contributions. This walk helped me recall and acknowledge the pain that Christopherâs loved ones bear every day. The Summit Project represents a great effort to keep veteransâ ultimate sacrifice in a light that shines as a beacon to us and to future generations. Thank you, Christopher, for helping ensure the brightness of that light.
Respectfully,
Paul R. Gagnon
Dear Friends and Family,
On October 17, 2015 I had the honor carrying Chris’s stone up the South Ridge Trail to summit Cadillac Mountain. Throughout this experience I found comfort in knowing that Tommy Dostie was hiking right next to Chris. For those of you who do not know, Tommy and Chris were both in the 133rd engineering battalion, they were friends. Both Chris and Tommy rode the bus to the start of the trailhead together in the same seat. Interestingly, this was not planned⌠it just happened. I found comfort in knowing that they were there together. Many times I simply forgot that I was carrying a stone, feeling as if Chris, Tommy and all of the fallen were right there with us, merely using our bodies to shine through each and every one of us. This was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had the honor of participating in. I look forward to many more hikes with The Summit Project and all of our fallen soldiers. It feels strange for me to say that I did not know Chris because I feel like I did and I feel like I do. I feel like Chris has become family. Like he’s one of my brothers, someone that I would look up to and reach out to for advice. I find myself thinking about Chris often, even celebrating his birthday. It’s amazing reading the stories of all the people that have carried Chris’s stone and how much of an impact he has had on all of our lives and how we all strive to be more like him. I can almost picture of him smiling in heaven but yet not really wanting the recognition. If I could say one thing to Chris it would be Thank You. Thank You for being an amazing human being, the world needs more people like you. I’ll try my best but I have some really big shoes to fill.
With all my love- Monica Bates
On the eve of Veterans Day I sit and think about how grateful I am to all our Veterans, alive and especially deceased. We are incredibly lucky to live in a country where brave, selfless individuals put their lives on the line daily to ensure the freedoms most of us take for granted.
I will never forget October 17, 2015 when I was part of The Summit Projectâs hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park. I had the honor to carry the stone and hopefully the remarkable spirit of SGT. Christopher D. Gilineau. He truly was a hero to all who knew him with his generous spirit, quiet leadership qualities and great sense of humor. He is also a hero to many of us who did not get a chance to know him personally but feel like he has touched our soul.
I know I am forever changed by this experience and I thank Chris every day in my prayers.
Maine Heros are Not Forgotten
I was glad to carry Christopher Gelineau’s stone up Bradbury mountain on December 4th 2015. As I brought his stone up the mountain I remembered everything I heard or read about him. About how he went to USM. How he loved technology and computers. When he died though he was awarded a purple hart and a bronze star medal, he was also promoted to Sargent. At least now he is in a better place and we can always remember that smile. Thank you for letting me carry his stone. This project helped me realize how much someone can change the way you see things, even if you don’t know them. It’s scary how much change one person can make, and that the things we do could affect another generation of people, without even trying.
-Troy Walton
To the family and friends of Christopher D. Gelineau,
On April 16th I had the honor and privilege of carrying Chris’ stone in the TSP Memorial walk in Newport. What a truly humbling experience this was. Chris and his story still weigh on my mind. Mr. Gelineau may God bless you and your family.
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To the family and friends of Chris,
Today Greg Johnson and I hiked up Table Rock Mountain in Maine with 44 children who all have a parent or sibling currently serving in the military. They carried 27 stones up the mountain today. Here is a letter from the campers that had the honor of carrying your hero.
“I am Camden and my friend is James and we had the honor of carrying Chris’s stone up the mountain. During the hike we thought about everything that he did and would have done. We would like to say that we are sorry for your loss and what we have heard about him is that he was a really great person. He inspired all of us and we would have really liked to have met him.
Love,
Camden and James”
I would just like to add a nice story one of the counselors shared about his time in the Army National Guard with Chris. He stood up to share with the group how selfless Chris truly was. If you needed something done, Chris was the man to call, though he was probably already doing it without being asked… He was trustworthy and held onto friendships with all he had. He is missed beyond belief.
Chris brother,
I had the honor of carrying your stone up Acadia this month. You know its been a long time coming. Every time I see your face, your stone, your memorial I run away from you like the plague. I spoke about who you are and what it was like being around a person of good nature. I appreciate the opportunity to speak about your passing to Lavi back in September of ’04. It’s a slow process of healing but I do appreciate both of your guidance. May you rest easy my friend and continue to laugh and smile with that beautiful bride of yours.
Here is how I felt my friend.
The early morning rise, the clean crisp air of Acadia, a wake up without coffee and pure emotions running wild. Preparation was the easy part. The mental game that would hit me would be the part I hated most but loved expressing with tears at the end. My breath would become thick, choking in words, an attempt to grip my inner most âfeelingsâ was my savior. The hike itself was not as bad as the emails, tons and tons of it would have it but a fun and relaxing pace it became.
The reflection piece that was inspiring was listening to the fellow hikers sharing the story of the stone they carried. For myself, it was the hardest and best part of that hike hands down and nothing else could match the healing that came with it.
No matter who you are and where you came from, the Summit Project is where itâs at. Take it from a Combat Veteran who suffers from the traumas of war, this is where healing begins and it is your time to remember our fallen.
Nice job! If you ever feel the need to talk, you can contact me at anytime. 207-956-1190.
Don Sargent
MHANF
On 15 OCT 2016, David J. Cote wrote —
On 1 October 2016, I was a hiker on team TARN for TSP at ANP 2016. No two TSP events are the same. Every TSP event brings a mix of emotions from joy, to sadness, to inspiration, to humility and motivation. No matter what, our team with our TSP family had an incredible, powerful and unforgettable weekend.
There are so many powerful memories from that weekend. New friends, old friends, and a renewed sense of purpose and vision.
There are too many stories to record here, but from an unfortunate mistake that caused a major inconvenience before the hike, to a leaky tent overnight, to the joy seeing some of the best people on this planet to the stunning views of coastal Maine and finally the thrill of summiting Cadillac with my team, I tried to live a life that was worthy of the ultimate sacrifice that Chris Gelineau made on April 20, 2004.
You see, Maine Army National Guard Spc. Christopher D. Gelineau, 23 of Portland, Maine died far too young, but his story endures and has touched me personally. He was assigned to the 133rd Engineer Battalion, Army National Guard, Gardiner, Maine; and killed April 20, 2004, when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq.
Here is what happened on that that day in 2004 — SGT Gelineau was in the lead Humvee when a roadside bomb exploded and heavily damaged the vehicle. Enemy fighters then began shooting at the soldiers. SGT Gelineau and three others were injured in the explosion and battle.
SGT Gelineau was the first member of the Maine National Guard to be killed in Iraq and he was posthumously awarded Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals and promoted to Sergeant.
Before joining the Army, Chris was a 1999 graduate of Mount Abraham Union High School in Bristol, Maine.
Those who knew Gelineau described him as a quiet, friendly, reliable young man who loved working with computers. Computer lab after school, scholarship to USM, with the Guard, he loved all facets of computer science. He could write any code or program. Admired, quiet, never pretentious. I tried to recount these details with my team on the Cadillac peak. I wanted to share that SGT Gelineau was kind, giving, quiet and so generous.
Chris helped his fellow solider make a CD of photos to send home. This soldier has asked Chris for his assistance because he KNEW Chris was giving, and savvy with computers. Chris took that CD, disappeared for a minute, and came back with several copies, so his platoon mate could connect with family, reassure them he was OK and connect with loved ones. Such a giving, generous act of love, to help in the most important way â for loved ones to stay connected. I shared this story with team TARN and tried to pay proper tribute to the memory of SGT Chris Gelineau and his sacrifice for this nation. The final point I wish to make here is that his fellow solider sought out CHRIS to assist him with the task. Perhaps embarrassed to ask for help to burn a CD, Chris did NOT hesitate for a moment. He saw an opportunity to help. He helped his fellow solider without delay. It reminds me of what a mentor shared with me years ago — people ask for a personâs help, because they think (and hope) that person will say yes. They came to that person first. This is an opportunity to build rapport, build community and help someone in need. That is how Chris was.
The memorial stone comes from Gorham campus of USM near the computer science labs. Chrisâs wife said at funeral, he is to be considered a hero not because he died, but because of the way he lived his life. We must remember that we can all be heroes in this same way.
My mission is to honor, love and remember Chris in this same way. I want to honor a hero, but I also want to ensure that Chrisâs legacy lives on so that his family can rest easy because they know, without a doubt, that Chris continues to add light the world and improves the lives of others.
Maine Heroes are NOT Forgotten.
David J. Cote
Founder TSP
To the family of Sgt. Christopher D. Gelineau,
My name is Mykayla and I had the honor of carrying your beloved sonâs stone up Streaked Mountain on October 20th. I researched quite a bit on Chris before we hiked up the mountain and all that he had done for our country. He was a very courageous and brave man and Iâm very thankful for the time that he served.
Carrying the eleven pound stone up the mountain was a workout for me and very tiring. However, compared to the work Chris put into his position in the Marines, hiking up a trail seems like nothing but a piece of cake. This experience was something I wonât forget. It was very inspiring to learn about his life then to, metaphorically, walk him up the mountain. Talking about him and Chrisâs life when we reached the top was very moving and Iâm so glad I got to learn about him and what heâs done.
While we were all up on the mountain and listening to everyone share their soldiers stories, all I could think about was how these people knew they were risking their lives or how they knew how dangerous their job. However, they still went through with it. Chris, and all the soldiers, were very brave and daring for this.
I have a cousin thatâs in the reserves and he occasionally has to go over seas for months at a time and itâs so nerve wracking and scary for the whole family. Weâre always so worried about him and canât wait until he gets back home. Iâve never lost a family member to war or anything related to it so I canât even begin to imagine how youâre feeling ever single day. Iâm sorry for your loss of such a courageous and important person in your life. Iâm so grateful and thankful for his service and I wonât soon forget Chris or this amazing experience.
Thank you,
Mykayla
To the family and friends of Chris,
I am very grateful for the opportunity to have hiked with Chrisâ stone. This was the second time I was able to hike with it. The hike was on 3OCT2016 at Bradbury Mountain in Pownal.
I was deployed with the same Battalion as Chris in 2004, we were in different companies so I really didnât get a chance to know him. His loss hit our unit pretty hard, he was our first KIA of the deployment. I remember how it affected my company commander who was a pretty hard guy, says a lot about how he felt about Chris who he knew personally.
The hike was cold and rainy, just the way the Army would want it. I was the point man for our team and was walking with a couple kids who were thinking about joining the military. It was kind of poetic talking to these kids who were only a few years younger than Chris. It was almost like he was helping me connect with these young men. Everyone I have talked to that knew him said great things about him and all of the pictures I have seen of him he is smiling. I wish I could have got to know him.
I look forward to our next hike Chris,
Andy Pattle.
âTo The Last Manâ! (133rd EN BN motto)
MHANF!
My husband Dennis and I had the honor and privilege of carrying Christopher’s stone from Portland to Millinocket on our motorcycle to hand off to the hiker who will then carry it to the top of Mt. Katahdin. This is my second year doing this and the emotions for all are overwhelming. God bless all of his family and friends.
Hello!
My name is Andrew Douphinett, and I carried the stone of Sgt. Christopher D. Gelineau this Memorial Day. But not just that.
I had done some homework on his life and story, but I was not aware of how it would affect me in the days to come.
The ceremony of delivering the stones to the hikers was where the weekend really began for me. The bikers brought the stones up from Portland (awesome!), and then lined up to deliver them to the hikers. About halfway through they called his name, and I met the two wonderful people who biked him up (see above). I gave them the patch and carried the stone for the first time, to the table with all the heroes. A few minutes later, they called his name again, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted to receive that one too, but did not have a second patch to honor the biker with. Another gentleman had a patch and received the second stone.
I went to speak with Angel (aptly named), as she was one of the first people we met there, and clearly knew what was what. I asked about the ceremony and whether I should have received the second stone too. She was too kind in reassuring me that there was no reason to fret. I asked her if I could carry both stones up the mountain. This was the first event for my family, and everyone knew we were already carrying a lot this weekend. I think that there was concern of overdoing things, which was much appreciated. I must admit, I was being a bit tenacious at this point (sorry!).
What was affecting me so strongly from the story now came to the surface.
“In my mind, he got two stones for a reason. One for him, and one for his wife, and they should go together.”
And so they did.
It’s the kind of story that makes me want to go pack up the jeep, go driving around the state, singing karaoke at full blast, poorly, to go visit and hug everyone that I love. His story is a permanent reminder in my life, for, and towards the people I care about. I’m Honored. Humbled. Enlightened. And I’d love nothing more than to share that appreciation with anyone here who needs it. Don’t be shy.
đ
Gelineau Family,
I was honored to carry Christopher D. Gelineau rock on Sept 11, 2017 from the USM Portland campus to the USM Gorham campus (9.4 miles). It was a beautiful day and we had over 25 staff, faculty, student and community hikers that day. I shared a few stories of Christopher around 10am in Westbrook center and told everyone about the rock and memorial tree for Christopher on the Gorham Campus. During the last few miles I realized how important these men and women were towards our country.
Thank you for your sacrifice!
Kevin Normand
I was honored to once again carry the stones of Sgt. Christopher D. Gelineau on 10/14/17 up Cadillac Mountain in Acadia. It was a great hike up the mountain, with energizing gusts of wind flying over the mountainside. Near the top we could see the fog pouring over the ridge, almost like a soup. It was awesome. What stuck with me most was the camaraderie of our group, with many people watching over each other, making sure our stones and hikers made it through safely.
After we made it to the top of the mountain we spoke in turn of our fallen and their stories. Right about this time, the sun made its appearance, and a more warm and heartfelt ceremony could not be asked for. Quite a few in our group knew personally of their fallen, and the stories were powerful. I spoke of wishing to have known Chris, for everything I hear seems like my friends already.
His story is part of me now. My appreciation for things has grown because of my travels with him. Thank you.
As i sit here reflecting on the events of the past weekend, I have a lot of mixed emotions. First let me say what an honor it was to carry Chris’s stone. The entire event hit me in ways i didn’t know they could or would. It was a truly humbling experience, one that I will never forget. One of the most amazing parts for me was in the weeks leading up to the events in which i spent many hours learning about Chris. Throughout those hours i came to realize just how much we had in common. It is truly amazing how things work out sometimes. I fully believe that it was fate that i had the honor to carry his stone. From what i have learned Chris lead his life the way it was meant to be lead. He was a real salt of the earth kind of person. Even though we never met in person i feel like I’ve known him for years. I owe Chris a great deal not only for the sacrifice he made for this great country which he loved so much, but being a part of this event has changed me for the better. When i was asked to partake i was skeptical i mean its been years since I’ve hiked let alone run a race. I injured my knee during my time in the service. Even though i loved running that has always held me back, but as I was training for the event somehow someway my knee never hurt not once. It may sound odd but i know that was Chris watching out for me. I look forward to many more races and events in his honor and i know he will always be with me.Also being a part of this event and honoring Chris has made me change my way of life and try everyday to really live life. Not just for me but for all of our brothers, sisters, mothers fathers that gave their lives so we would be able to. I have learned that life is precious and to never take it for granted. For these life lessons i will be forever grateful. You truly are my hero, and though we have never met you are my brother. Chris i hold a very special place in my heart for you. Your memory and sacrifice will never be forgotten. It is truly an honor and my distinct privilege to call you brother.
Memorial Day is the day and weekend that honors all fallen heroes that served our country. It is especially meaningful and emotional for me to honor a fallen hero this time of year and couldn’t imagine a better way to spend it than to participate in a TSP event. This past Memorial Day I had the priveledge of carrying the stone and story of Christopher Gelineau to the top of Owl Mtn. at Baxter State park. While learning about Chris in the weeks leading up to the hike it was imediately apparent that Chris was a really great person. Always there to help others and give of himself. In the end he gave his life for all of us so that we can continue to live free in this great country of ours. Without people like Chris, our country would not be the same and who knows what would become of our freedome’s and way of life as we know it.
In the days leading up to our hike the forecast was for rainy conditions and not very favorable for hiking up a steep mtn. in Maine. When I left Portland to make my way north there was light rain but the weather pattern was changing and sunshine was on the way. The weekend was full of family members of fallen hero’s and friends from the TSP family. Our mission not only to hike and carry the stones of these great men and woman but to spend time with one another, sharing the stories and hearing from loved ones more personal stories of their lost loved ones. It provides healing and gratitude for many of these people because it keeps the memories alive and comfort in knowing that their lives were not lost in vain. That there really are people who appreciate the sacrifices made.
We had perfect weather and a great team of hikers who all take this mission very seriously. When we reached the top of Owl, we formed our honor circle and began telling our stories and sharing about our hero’s. This is always a very emotional and heartfelt time. Hearing all the stories makes it hit home that these were real honorable and unique people who selflessly gave their lives for us. Words cannot express my gratitude enough for Chris and all the others we honored that day.
As I often do, I had a t shirt made with my heros picture on it and some words of memorial. I am able to wear these shirts out in public which gives me further oportunity to share the stories beyond the TSP event. It is of upmost importance to me that the memory of Chris lives on so that people have a chance to think about the sacrifices made for us all. God bless Christopher Gelineau. May he rest in peace and know that his sacrifice was truly appreciated and will not be forgotten. MHANF!
Dear Friends and Family of Christopher Gelineau,
My name is Michael Killam and I had the honor and privilege of carrying Christopher Gelineauâs stone up and down Tumbledown Mountain on June 8, 2018. It was dry and windy on the day of the hike and the wind got worse as we got further up the mountain.
I climbed Tumbledown with around thirty others who were also carrying stones in memorial of other service members who gave their lives so we could be free. We went to the summit of Tumbledown so it ended up being a 5 mile hike up and down. The climb involved a lot of climbing up steep rocky inclines and Christopherâs stone only added to that weight but I pushed on knowing I was hiking in a living memorial of what christopher sacrificed to protect our nation.
I learned that Christopher had a love for technology and held vast knowledge of the subject. I learned that his stone had been taken from the University of Maine in Gorham where he earn an honorary degree. I also learned that he was kind and well mannered.
It was an honor and privilege to carry Christopher Gelineauâs stone and keep his legacy alive.
Hello there.
My name is Ryland Moore, I live in New Gloucester, Maine, I attend Gray-New Gloucester High School in a
semi-consensual manor, and I recently took SGT Gelineau’s stone up down the peak of Mt Katahdin this past weekend.
I went to Katahdin as part of a trip with my school’s outing club. There were 9 of us on the trip, and 8 made it to the summit (Nobody died, somebody just felt queasy along the way and decided to play it safe). It was a gorgeous day out, 80° max, nice, cool breeze, not a cloud to be seen. However, at one point or another, Katahdin did this thing where it stopped being easy and became hard.
Like, really hard.
While everyone was making they’re way up and I was wheezing to the beat in the back, I thought to myself, “I severely underestimated the scale of this mountain and am unable to continue further. I am defeated.” The rocks, the cliffs, all with no harnesses or rope to keep me secure, it was simply overwhelming. For motivation, I thought about why I was climbing for myself, fun, adventure, achievement, all things I really wanted to experience. Then, I considered why I might be climbing for others, and sure enough, those extra eleven pounds lying in my bag were at the top of the list. I realized how farcical it would be for me to turn down the challenge of dealing with a couple loose rocks when I was carrying the memorial of someone who turned up the challenge of risking his life for the safety of his fellow countrymen without any hesitation. Thinking about things like that are very helpful when climbing mountains. In death, Christopher is still willing to help anyone who needs it just as he did in life.
I felt extremely honored and privileged to be able to pose with Chris’s rock at the peak, probably the highest it’s ever been. I may not have had the personal connection that previous carriers have had, but to say that I wasn’t a little emotional after hearing his full story would be quite the understatement. I felt glad to find out that I carried on the memory of a good man. His computer skills would’ve been quite handy for my family at the moment, as my mother still fails to recognize that not everyone under the age of 30 is a software engineer. I hope whoever’s reading this now could take time to hear my thanks to the Gelineau Family, for all their services, sacrifices, and hardships endured for this country. God bless you all. – Ryland
Dear Gelineau Family,
I was a participant in the 2018 Summit Project Cadillac Mountain hike. I hiked on the âBlackwoodâ team, carrying Christopherâs stone. I do not consider myself much of an active person, more like a bookworm who spends most of her hours sitting and reading, so this hike was something that I was not used to doing. This is my first official hike with TSP, but I have carried stones before on hikes during a weeklong military summer camp the past two years, so I have some experience with TSP.
My dad had been working with TSP for a long time, but I was surprised with myself that this was the first official TSP hike I had been on. Doing this took me outside my comfort zone, and being able to do it for Chris gave me wings. The hike was easy, much easier than I had expected, and I truly think that it was Chrisâs influence that took me up that mountain, and gave me the ability to enjoy and ponder it.
At intervals along the trip, I would tap the bottom of my bag where Chrisâs stone was, reassuring me that he was still there and that I still had the courage to keep going. I had initially written a short piece before the hike to say at the top of the mountain. After getting to the top, setting Chrisâs stone out in the sun, I didnât even take the paper out of my bag. I sat patiently, listening to all of these people and what they had to say about their experience. My speech was short, and I had spoken about Chris and how he might have fit into my life. He was in the same Unit as my dad when they were in Iraq, and the one thing I couldnât get over is what would have happened if theyâd been in each other’s shoes. I was only about one and a half at the time, and I didnât have a clear picture of my dad in my mind. I couldnât have imagined what it would have been like without having known my dad at all. I cried, and I hadnât planned on crying, and I hate crying, but I cried. There was nothing more I could say. Chris was behind me, driving my emotions to the surface, and I was speechless.
I wish I had known him in order to do him justice, but I didnât so I could only do what I could in the moment. It was a little thing in my short sixteen years of life, but it is something that I will never forget or regret.
With the deepest love,
Emily
On Veterans weekend this year I had the privilege and honor of carrying Chris’s stone. There were some pretty significant moments on this day but I’m not surprised that Chris pulled me through all of them. This was my first time doing the Blue Hill Mountain hike on Saturday and then the 4 miler on Sunday. Ultimately I was honored to spend the entire weekend talking about Chris. I was happy to share all of his attributes. His leadership skills, his love for technology, his CONSTANT smile….oh man that smile. As we reached the top of the mountain on Saturday and we had the opportunity to talk about each soldier, I found myself thinking about how much Chris had accomplished in his short 23 years. I can’t explain to you how much it meant to me to share all the things I knew about Chris. I take pride in the fact that he was assigned to me. And as fate would have it, he was exactly what I needed. Thank you for not only raising such an amazing son but also for sharing him with the rest of us. I look forward to sharing him with all that I run into and have the opportunity. Veterans weekend was truly my honor.
To the Family of Sgt. Gelineau:
I participated in what was supposed to be The Summit Project at BSP. The BSP part didnât happen because of conditions on the Owl. It didnât matter where we hiked because the point was to honor our fallen heroes like Chris.
It was a privilege to carry Chrisâ stone and learn about his life. I watched the couple of the videos available online, read everything I could find, and could tell from those who loved him what a gift he was. Smart, a computer genius, a genuinely kind human being.
I printed a picture of Chris before the hike and brought it with me. We ended up sitting by a lake to tell the stories of those for whom we were hiking. It was a peaceful, quiet place. I passed the picture of Chris around because I felt it was the best way for my hiking team to understand Chris. His beautiful smile seemed to be the the most powerful explanation of who he was and the life he lived.
I read that phrase to my fellow hikers that Lt. Colonel Janson used to describe Chris: he had a âspecial way of making difficult days just a little brighter.â In honor of Chris, I will do my best to try to do this for others.
Dear Gelineau Family,
I would like to introduce myself (Ivana) and my teammate Diego. We are part of a Mission called Ruck to Remember [60to60]. For the past few years, we Ruck every Memorial Day Weekend, 60 miles from Harperâs Ferry in W.V. to Section 60 in Arlington National Cemetery, to Honor and Remember our Fallen Heroes. Last year, Memorial Day Weekend 2019, we [60to60] had the Honor to join forces with TSP. It was my 7th year and I believe Diegoâs 3rd or 4th. Once again, we were on the Alpha Team and had the Honor to carry few Tribute Stones. When I found out, that I will be Rucking âwithâ Chris, I immediately began to search his âlifeâ. When done, I knew, I will not only have Chris rucking with us, but that Lavinia will be enduring this journey with us as well, every step of the way.
The day of our last yearâs Mission, I shared his Life with our team, and Diego offered to help me carry Chrisâs TS during our Ruck. We begun to ruck as we have done for many years prior, we laughed, we shared storied and we endure the pain while remembering WHY we are there, and WHY we Ruck to Remember. We shared Chrisâs TS back and forth, when the miles got heavy and every time, we did that, the reason to keep going, was way bigger than any pain we felt.
It was not until our Final Night Push back to Washington D.C., when I realized how much we NEED Them, Our Fallen Heroes, to be there with us. Yes, we Ruck in their Honor, we Ruck so their NAME is spoken, and they are Remembered. Yet, that night I have learned how much they Still Give Us too. We were all broken, tired, and hurting with over 40 miles in our feet and 20 miles still ahead of us. It was halfway through the night, when I notice change in my teammate Diego, he was hurting and he wouldnât âgive upâ Chrisâs Tribute Stone⌠the longer the night went on, the more I noticed what was happening⌠Diego was in pain, but it was not just physical pain, it was âemotionalâ pain as well. At that moment I stopped asking for Chrisâs Tribute Stone back. I knew, Chris was exactly where he needs to be. Diego did not know back then, but I cried. I cried because I could not help. He had a lot to carry and at this point, it was no longer the physical part of the ruck. He held on to âChrisâ to âhelpâ him get through whatever was happening in his mind and heart. When we placed Chrisâs Tribute Stone in the grass at the Gates of Arlington National Cemetery, we knew the Mission was Accomplished.
I wanted you to know this, as Chris might be âgoneâ, but he is still very much âpresentâ and still having âour 6â.
Fast forward to this yearâs Ruck to Remember 2020. As the world came to a slow STOP this year, so did our Ruck to Remember. Yet, the mission went on and we were able to create Outpost in many States, to keep on Rucking and Remembering our Fallen. Our MA Outpost was honored to team up with TSP again and we were able to carry 14 Main Heroes this year. As soon as I saw Chrisâs Stone, I knew, we will be rucking together again⌠all 4 of us⌠Diego, Rucked in D.C. this year, but he was âin my ear and on my mindâ the entire time⌠while Chris was on my right shoulder and Lavinia was on my left.
Your Son âisâ Amazing. Your Son still makes a difference today. Thank you so very much for giving me the Honor to get to meet Chris. I know this is not a goodbye, this is⌠till next time.
Ivana (and Diego).
2020 has proven to be a year for the record books. It seems that everything is just a LITTLE bit more difficult than our normal ways of thinking. I had the honor of carrying the stone and story of SGT. Christopher D. Gelineau of the 133rd Engineer Battalion, Maine Army National Guard who was fatally wounded while serving outside Mosul, Iraq when The HMMWV he was traveling in detonated a roadside IED.
On September 26, 2020 we congregated by team at Smuggler’s Den Campground for our safety brief. Our normal stay hydrated, stay together, youre only as fast as your slowest hiker brief was blended with Covid concerns and masks and social distancing.
I looked around at the hikers and realized that they were just like me. They were not going to let Covid interfere with our honoring of the Heroes and their Families. Maybe things were different. No huge tent, no large breakfast spread, no coffee going, no large throngs of people congregating telling stories. One thing hadn’t changed however. Our desire to make sure our heroes were not forgotten.
After a longer than normal safety brief in thick fog, we donned not only out packs, but also our masks and loaded onto the bus for the trailhead. The bus ride seemed more somber than I remembered, but that all went away once we were off the bus and at the base of the trail. New vigor showed up on everyone’s faces and they were ready to do what we came for; To complete the mission.
I am by no means a hiker. I am by no means physically fit. Every hike I do I think to myself, am I going to make it to the top? Will I fall out? With every hike I pull strength from the Hero I carry. This hike was no different. All my strength came from Chris. What did change was I didn’t worry about not making it. I didn’t worry about falling out. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was there with me, guiding me along the way. The 23 year old soldier showing this 41 year old man that he had what it took to summit and share his story.
The hike was done on South Ridge Trail. The day was very foggy but the temperature was perfect for a long hike. Stopping at Eagle Crag along the way we were able to peer off a ledge over trees that were changing into fall colors. The view was breathtaking. No really, I’m also scared of heights so it was taking my breath away, but I looked anyway. It was perfect, serene, and exhilarating.
The rest of the hike went on without flaw. A perfect pace, magnificent views, great company both in hikers and Heroes kept the day seemingly the easiest climb I’ve done. We reached the summit ahead of schedule and found the perfect place for our Circle Testimony. It was the most “Maine” spot we could have found. Granite ledges that were perfect seats, craggy earth, brilliant pine trees, and a beautiful view of the ocean surrounded us.
At the close of our Testimony I, along with everyone else, seemed to be looking from face to face. There was not a dry eye in our bunch. There is so much emotion that comes out in these Testimonies. Hearing of our Heroes being taken too soon while defending our country can be a very hard thing to hear, but I know these Heroes would not have it any other way. My heart swells with pride and admiration for these Heroes and their Families, and I that every one of them and want them to know that their heroes are our Heroes and we will continue to remember them, honor them, and say their names. #MHANF
To the family and friends of Christopher Gelineau,
On the Sunday before Memorial Day, I had the honor and privilege to carry Chrisâs stone in the virtual Summit Project hike. Normally, my family and I would have traveled to beautiful Baxter State Park to honor Maineâs fallen heroes with our TSP family but in the times of Covid-19, adjustments had to be made and the hikers on Team Gold chose their own summits to conquer.
We set out early in the morning to travel up to the White Mountains and hike a beautiful 7mile loop to the summit of Caribou Mountain. My husband, my 18 year old son and 12 year old daughter also carried memorial stones right alongside me. Our dog, Zoey, joined us on the hike as well. It was a chilly morning and we were the only people on the trail as we set out. The woods were peaceful around us with birds singing and the sound of brooks never far from the trail.
After climbing steadily, we reached the first overlook and the view was breathtaking â mountains as far as the eye could see, with majestic Mt. Washington still covered in snow. Once we reached the summit, we settled in a spot with 360° views of the mountains to share the stories of the fallen heroes whose stones we had carried for the last 3.5 miles.
I had the honor of sharing Chrisâs story with my family, the story of a young man whose life was cut short when his vehicle hit an IED on April 20, 2004 in Mosul, Iraq. Chris was only 23 years old when he lost his life. Having an 18 year old son myself, it always breaks my heart to be reminded just how young some of Maineâs fallen heroes were when they gave their all for our freedom.
Chris was passionate about computers, starting at a young age and used his talents often to help others, from creating a software program for the maintenance crew at his high school to helping a fellow soldier make a photo CD for his family back home. He was humble and always had a positive outlook on life. He met his wife at college when he helped her fix her computer. Before he deployed, he attended USM where he took courses in computer science. His stone was retrieved from the campus of USM in Gorham.
Sharing Chrisâs story on top of that beautiful mountain in Western Maine has truly been a privilege, made even more memorable by having my entire family with me. We all shared our stories and learned about the lives these young men led before they perished. As Chrisâs wife said at his memorial service, let us remember them as heroes, not because they died, but because of the way they lived their lives!
MHANF
To the family and loved ones of Chris Gelineau
On September 25th I had the honor of hiking with Chris. I found out a few weeks before the hike that we would be trekking together, and it was then that I began to learn his story. I read about a quiet, thoughtful man who is remembered and missed by many that he had met in his brief time here. I learned about the love that he and his young wife shared together, and how it was an affection to be both envied and inspiring to all couples. I also discovered the tragedy that befell their families. My heart goes out to you folks.
The week leading up to the day of the hike foretold that it was going to be a wet walk. My wife and I both packed our rain gear as we had full intentions of summiting Cadillac, come drizzle or downpour. As we drove to MDI the skies were very bleak. We met with the other hikers at base camp and huddled under the tent as we awaited the dayâs mission. There was talk among the crowd that the weather forecast had taken a change. There was now supposed to be lightning storms in the area! The announcement was made that we would not be climbing Cadillac, due to safety concerns, but would instead make a smaller hike to nearby Echo Lake. As we were given our stones, the skies opened up and it poured. We tightened up our raincoats and prepared to step out from under the tent, when the nicest thing happened. The rain stopped. As we neared Echo Lake, I expected the rain to start at any minute, and possibly bring the lightning with it. We made it to the beach just as dry as when we left camp and found spots where we could circle around and tell others the story of our soldier.
There were so many things I wanted to tell the group about Chris. We had a few things in common. I am a quiet person myself and I try to be helpful to my fellow man as well. His way of educating and leading by example is another trait I believe we share. I donât believe myself to be anywhere near his caliber, but my peers find me to be handy with computers also. Thinking about it now, I probably had more in common with Chris than any other soldier I have hiked with. There were things about Chris that inspired me to try and be better too. I have a young marriage with a lovely woman. I should strive to show my love the way Chris did Lavinia. Chrisâ courage and selflessness should be an inspiration to us all. As I finished talking at the circle, I knew immediately that I had not been able to convey all that I wanted about this young man. When I looked at the faces around me, however, they kind of told me that they âgot itâ and I feel that they did.
As we talked about the soldiers who hiked with us, the darndest thing happened. The grey, bleak sky that had been with us all morning actually broke and the sun was able to come through. I know it gave me a feeling of warmth, and it was easy to tell that others felt the same. We finished up and walked back to camp without any encounter of rain. As we gathered around again under the tent, we announced our soldierâs names and returned their stones. The sky, once again on cue, let loose and drenched the outside in torrents of rainfall as we were under shelter.
As my wife and I drove home that afternoon, I continued to think about the dayâs weather. I am not what I would call a superstitious man, but after seeing the sky cry twice when the stones were brought out, and then shine its warmth down on us like every soldier that came with us that day was truly there, it really made me think. My thoughts went back again to Chris and Lavinia. I looked over at my wife and told her that she was the best thing that had happened to me and that this was a truly special day that I was glad to share with her. Thank you, Chris, for choosing me.
Sincerely Brandon Schanz
Dear Gelineau Family,
I had the honor and privilege of carrying Christopherâs stone during the TSP run on May 28, 2022 from Portland to Millinocket, Maine.
His memory will live on. God bless your family!
Respectfully,
Christopher “Poundz” Brann
American Infidels
Veterans motorcycle club
Dear Gelineau family,
I had the honor of carrying Chrisâ stone and sharing his story with the TSP mission at the hike up Cadillac Mountain this past weekend.
We weathered the winds of Fiona Friday night and up the mountain Saturday. While it was cold and windy, it became a beautiful, sunny day at the summit. I told of his life and his caring spirit.
I cannot express enough how his story saddened and moved me. Thank you for your service and allowing me the privilege to be a part of Chrisâ memory. The gap that is in this world with the loss of Chris cannot be filled, but I assure you he is not forgotten.
Christopher D. Gelineau, born in Vermont, and more recently living in Maine, the state with the motto, “Dirigo”, “I lead,” was killed in action in Iraq on April the 20th of 2004; but, his memory and spirit lived on at The Summit Project’s Memorial Day Weekend honor hike in the Summer of 2023. Â
I saw my own brother, Jake, yesterday at a visit with my own Mom and cousin; like Chris, my brother, Jake served in the National Guard and was called up to serve in the Middle East conflict in 2004; I gifted this hike’s commemorative TSP patch to Jake yesterday. Our family is thankful that Jake returned home after Iraq, and Jake saw with his own eyes the service and devotion that National Guard members brought to Iraq.
I know not whether Jake and Chris crossed paths in Iraq; but, my brother is a good guy, and from all the stories of Chris’Â sunny, service, spirit filled ways, I bet Chris’ kindness & decency rubbed off on many souls he smiled at along his trail.
Sergeant Chis Gelineau has a story with some dark clouds, lots of twists and turns, much to learn & research about in his life, his family, his wife; another Gold Star mom, Peggy Dostie, was kind and thoughtful to me after the return-the-stone ceremony post-hike; Peggy approached me and said that she wanted to chat with me for a minute, and Peggy shared that she had met Chris’ wife, Lavina, at Chris’ memorial service, and Peggy wanted to be sure that I knew that Chris & Lavy are together again now & that I had fully understood the story; chatting with Peggy brought me comfort, as I had been trying to come to terms with all the parts of Chris’ family story; Peggy helped me to embrace the story, even the dark cloud parts of it; it was my assignment to give comfort & honor to a Gold Star family, yet here was a Gold Star Mom, who went out of her way to thank me and to bring me peace & comfort.
I wrote a brief paragraph, copied below, a few weeks ago about what it means to live a good life; Chris’ Dad shared in a good video with David Cote a decade ago, that Chris was a real person who had ups and downs like all the rest of us, but that his core was filled with a ton of sun and kindness. Chris would like this idea:
Maybe building a good life isn’t about being perfect; maybe a good life isn’t about big things; and, a good life — it isn’t always about loud noises; maybe a good life is not about saying yes to every need and request in the world, or doing everything for everyone all the time; perhaps, a good life is oftentimes about small things; maybe it is about quiet moments, and easily over-looked accomplishments, easily missed blessings, un-seen acts of kindness and goodness; maybe a good life isn’t always about getting the ‘W’, but rather finding the Win in the celebration, the high honor of fighting a good fight for a day, a good fight for just a moment – and win, lose, or draw, regardless the outcome, finding the W in that. Maybe a good life is not about big things; maybe a good life is about small, tiny, often un-seen things?
At the Summit of our hike up The Owl Mountain, which is close to and within eyesight of the beautiful, rocky top of Mount Katahdin – that still had some fluffs of white snow grasping on, even in very late May – ten intrepid, tough, kind, hikers found twenty pound stones in their packs and pulled them out next to their positions on peak. We sat down after hiking the high up hills for about four hours of walking, hand over hand climbing, a few team breaks, even some hearty laughs and shenanigans and smiles; at the well earned summit respite, we drank our drinks to rehydrate; one hiker shared a snack, passed around the circle, in honor of his stone; I heard many heartfelt stories: heroes not gone, heroes not gone, but remembered, spirits still very much kept alive. Maybe their spirits were seated with us all as we rested? I got a lot out of listening to the other nine hikers share their brilliant, bright stones. We think a rock is a dead object, but the moving stories moved my own heart and amongst a set of ten deceased service members — these service members provided me with a service, a service worth glittering diamonds & gems, in hearing hikers share what they learned from these brave fallen Mainers, whose spirits live on these stones, these families, these hikers. One team hiker eloquently shared the power of team in her own life, and wished that the gifts of team could have been gifted to her stone, her hero more; another hiker I was honored to climb up and down our high, hard mountain shared bravely from his heart a stunning testimony of understanding and empathy for his hero’s journey. Another hiker had taken the devotion to type out an articulate story of his stone; ten hikers in a circle, all sharing their stone in their own way. All worthy and sincere. All gifts to their heroes and their Gold Star families; but I must share that being around these stones was a gift to me, too.
The mountain was high and hard. Took some brave and toughness & heart to get up to that view, stretching out into the green spring valley many miles to the budding leafy foliage towards the South, where we had come from. A high, hard sweaty hike. Chris was kind and smart and incredibly knowledgeable with computers and technology; but I imagine that he was quite brave and strong, too. Over the TSP weekend at Baxter, I heard a lot of deep rooted strength in the vocal cords of fellow Summit Project volunteers. Strength that seemed to be shared and passed around in a circle, just a fellow hiker passed around a small snack from a plastic bag in our team’s summit circle. Kindness. Smarts. But strength and courage, too. Just like Chris, I bet.
Do one small, good thing today — If you wanna do one thing to honor Chris today, do one small, kind, decent, brave, strong thing, even if no one sees, I think Chris will see it and he’ll smile.
Dear Gelineau family,
I had the honor of carrying Chrisâs stone to the Cadillac Mountain Summit on September 23, 2023. It was a great day for a hike, not too hot and the sky was clear. We took the South Ridge trail up at a steady pace and made good time. We stopped and took pictures, shared stories, and a few good jokes. I thought of your son frequently on the way up. Thanks to him, I have met at least 20 good people I would love to hike with again.
I learned that Chris was the type of person that could keep people together, especially with projects. He was exceptionally talented in computer engineering and programming, and he was using this experience when he was stationed in Iraq. He was a quiet leader, easy to approach and always willing to lend a helping hand. I also learned that even though his life was cut short, he was able to find true love. I was sad to learn that his wife, Lavinia, of less than 2 years passed away the following year. I wanted to also acknowledge her on this hike, so I carried a pink teddy bear and shared some of her story of how she was helpful in supporting and connecting families whose loved ones were deployed.
This was such a memorable day, please know that Chris and Lavi will never be forgotten. Thank you for allowing all of us past, present and future hikers to honor their memory.
Sincerely,
Alisa Cleary