21, of New Portland, Maine; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay; died Aug. 14 while supporting combat operations in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
To honor LCpl Joshua M. Bernard, his entire family, but led by his sister, Katie Bernard retrieved this stone from their homestead in New Portland, Maine.
Watch this video to learn why this stone is significant and what it says about LCpl Joshua M. Bernard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i1EPd_2ckc&rel=0
41 Comments
I enjoyed the few hours we spent together over Memorial Day Weekend. I loved watching your family interact. Since that weekend I have been thinking about how to show my appreciation for Josh’s service and sacrifice. This coming weekend I plan to carry his Stone during a GORUCK Challenge on Friday night, followed by a GORUCK Light on Saturday. Thanks again for sharing Josh’s story, and for your sacrifice.
Ted Coffin
April 21, 2014 â Today I am part of The Summit Project living memorial. Later this morning, I will carry the legacy and memory of fallen Maine hero â LCpl Joshua Bernard of New Portland, Maine through 26.2 miles of the Boston Marathon. Months of physical and mental preparation culminate today â I will carry Joshâs service on my heart, his smile on my face and his dog tags around my neck. I will tell everyone about the âsaver liferâ he was. Pain is temporary. Pride is forever. To Josh and his family â thank you. djc
Dear John, Sharon and Katie,
Iâm not even sure how to begin this letter. Ever since the hike, my thoughts have been a jumble of words and lines. It took me opening up to a fellow hiker and having a good cry to clear my head and finally start having my thoughts come together.
We all come to TSP for different reasons. I learned about The Summit Project a year ago and as I read the mission and poured over the postings on the Facebook page, I thought, âI need to get involved somehow.â When, earlier this year, it was announced there would be a tribute hike up Cadillac in October. I didnât hesitate to sign up. I hadnât hiked in Acadia in many years and looked forward to it. When I filled out my registration form to be a tribute hiker, Joshâs stone was one of two that I requested. Although, I did not know your family, the fact that we were all from New Portland made me feel connected to Josh all the same. It was a bittersweet moment when I was told I would carry Joshâs stone. I knew this journey would be an honor and would make an impact on me. Little did I knowâŚ
To prepare for the hike, I watched your video several times and looked up information online about Josh. I started a workout routine at home and went on several practice hikes. But, what I learned is that there is no way to prepare emotionally for this type of hike.
When the day of the hike arrived, I was excited, nervous, humbled and heartbroken all at the same time. As I signed in and picked Joshâs stone up off the table, I had to fight emotions down. Here was this beautiful stone representing your son. A young man I never had the privilege of knowing, yet had the privilege of honoring in such a profound way. A young man, who grew up just a few short miles from where I did in the same small town. It saddened me to depths I cannot describe that I drove countless times by your house while you raised this incredible young man, and our paths never crossed.
I put those emotions aside while we loaded the bus to set off to our trailhead. I knew that if I didnât, Iâd be a mess before the hike even began. I channeled his navigation skills to work through mind blocks in order to push myself further up the mountian. His sense of humor and desire to make others smile when they were upset were constantly at the forefront of my mind. I truly believe that he was right there with me helping me to smile especially when my heart was beating like crazy and I was short of breath.
This was not an easy hike for me, both physically and emotionally. But I wanted and needed a challenge and thatâs exactly what I got. When my pack was at its heaviest and I was lagging behind the rest of the team, I channeled Joshâs strength and determination. At one point, when I was at my weakest moment, I was asked if I would consider allowing another teammate to carry Joshâs stone for a bit so I could catch a breather. I looked at the gentleman and said, âNo, I started with Joshâs stone, Iâll finish with Joshâs stone.â I wasnât being a martyrâŚI just couldnât give it up. I knew I could get to the top carrying his stone, but I needed to slow down a bit. And, I did get there with the encouragement of my team and by mustering every bit of strength I could gather.
At the summit of Cadillac, our team gathered in a circle in the wind and rain and started talking about whose stone we carried. Everything I learned about Josh and his service went blowing in the wind. My notes were tucked down in the bottom of my pack and my mind went blank. I tried focusing on what the others were saying until it was my turn to speak. When that time came, I realized in a moment of clarity, that it wasnât about knowing every detail that I could find out about Josh and reciting that information. It was about his story, his character and how I connected to him. So, I talked about us being from the same small town in western Maine and how I used his strength and determination to get up the mountain. I only spoke a few words, but they came from the heart.
Back at Thompson Island, seeing you, John and Katie, across the field brought back up all the emotions that I had suppressed throughout the day. Saying âthank youâ for Joshâs sacrifice and for yours as well just didnât seem like enough. John, handing Joshâs stone back to you was such a humbling moment for me. At no point during the hike did I lose sight of the fact that the weight that I struggled to carry came nowhere near the loss you all felt when Josh gave the ultimate sacrifice. Sharon, I hope to be able to stop in and meet you on one of my upcoming visits to New Portland in the next couple of months. Katie, I think I could most relate to you throughout this journey. Josh was your first playmateâŚyour first best friend. And, although my older brother came home safely from every deployment, I know that it could have just as easily been me standing at Thompson Island waiting for the hiker who carried my brotherâs stone. John, Sharon and Katie, Thank you. Thank you for raising such a fine young man and for participating with The Summit Project so that others, like myself, can get to know who Josh was and make sure others learn about him.
You know, one of my bucket list items is to âmake an impact in a strangerâs life.â It has not escaped me that through this journey, it was actually a stranger who made the most profound impact in my life. Josh is not forgotten. I will carry him in my heart always. I promise to stop and visit him on School Street every time I have the chance. MHANF
Sincerely,
Heather Audet
Reading thru the above comments, it really becomes obvious just how much “weight” Joshua’s stone really is. Last December I carried his stone on part of the Wreaths Across America Ride, had dozens of people asking about the stone and when hearing his story a lot of them had tears in their eyes. Some of them asked if they could touch his stone and all of them said give their thanks and appreciation to his family.
Carrying Joshua’s stone just reaches into your soul and really grabs you, I’ve met his family only once and can’t imagine their pain and suffering for their loss, but I get a feeling for it every time I’ve told Joshua’s story. Joshua has changed every single one of us that has carried his stone, none of us anticipated that and yet there it is.
So I say thank you for making the decision to carry a stone, his story will be retold many times and that is MHANF.
Dale Nason
I enjoyed the time that I spent at the summit project living memorial. I was honored to carry the legacy and memory of Joshua M. Bernard. When I was carrying the rock, I felt like Joshua was next to me because I know how much he love going outside and hiking. I respect the service and sacrifice that he did and I enjoyed the hours we spent going up Bradbury mountain. I also love the video you guys made about Joshua and how he love playing in the backyard with his sister. I remember when I was little I played with my three little brother, how much we had fun when we were little.
My cousin was in the army and he was sent to Afghanistan and he got shot in the left leg. That made of all of us very worried about him and waiting for him to come home. In school I learned about war and how many lives was lost and people coming home with out a leg,arm and finger.
Thanks for sharing Josh’s story with me and giving me the privilege of carrying Josh’s rock, I will never forget the experience I had.
Sincerely Brian Zhang
Dear, Family/Friends of Joshua M. Bernard
During this trip I was the person who carried Josh’s rock up Bradbury mountain. I would like to thank Josh for his service. I couldn’t of imagine some of the sacrifices you have had to go through. I read how he was a family man and I respected that. At the summit of the mountain we all put a rock down and said any words we had to. As I put the rock down I stated. “Joshua Bernard really liked to take trips to hike, it felt as if he was here with us today. I’m sure he would of loved the view and I give my condolences to his family and friends. thank you for your service.”I was happy to participate in carrying on Joshua’s legacy.
-Jack Adams
To the Family of LCPL Joshua M. Bernard,
It was only just a few weeks ago that I had heard about The Summit Project; yet, when I heard what they did and how they made an impact on so many peopleâs lives and how they chose to honor these fallen heroes, I knew that I wanted to take part in a hike that honored someone. I signed up and had not really decided which stone I wanted to carry. I decided to just hand my papers in and ask the director of my hike to pick one for me. My only request was that it was a Marine. I made this request due to the fact that my brother, 17 years old, has just recently enlisted to the Marines and will be leaving this coming fall.
I wanted to honor a Marine and think about the hard times that they have to go through and also think about the idea of risking their lives just to keep our country safe. I received a small card from my hike director about the stone that I was to carry. It was then that I realized how the stone had, in a way, chosen me. I noticed that Joshuaâs sister, Katie, picked out the stone that I was going to carry in my bag. I felt a connection with her. She also had a brother who enlisted in the Marines, and I felt that it was my duty, from the moment that I saw the stone, to carry this stone with her in mind.
The day of the hike came, and I was feeling nervous. What if I couldnât make it? What if I failed? Yet, through all of the thoughts of uncertainty, I kept in my mind that Joshua went through much harder times than simply hiking up a mountain. I began on my journey. Whenever I felt that I was nervous to get past a hard part of the trail, or when I was not sure what I was going to stay about the stone that was in my bag, I once again thought about how he did so many more challenges and knew what I was going through. Making it to the top was my only goal. Once I reached the top, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I knew that I had not failed him or his sister.
It soon came time to circle around and talk about what we had learned about the honorary stone that we carried. As I listened to the others speak about their stone and who they were honoring, my mind was so jumbled. I had no idea what I was going to say. When it was my turn, I just spoke the words that came from my heart. I just said how he was a very honored man, and also of how his sister picked out the stone from a place where they used to play when they were young. I also said how it reminded me of my own brother. I realized then that I had just made a difference in a strangerâs life.
Coming down from the mountain I just kept thinking about how I had just challenged myself to honor this man. I never met him, but I feel as if he and I have a sort of connection that I will remember always.
-Michaela Hill
To John, Sharon, and Katie
On the 29th of May, 2015 I, Allen Kimball age 16, had the honor and privilege of carrying your son and brother Lance CPL Joshua M. Bernard age 21, stone up Mt. Bigelow to the west peak, an altitude of 4145 FT. It was a very inspiring journey to the top and it was a true honor to carry a local hero with me to the top. It was a pleasure carrying his rock with me, at times it felt like he was there with me telling me to keep keeping on even when I thought i couldn’t go on anymore. In spirit he was there encouraging me to push myself and be all I could be. I enjoyed sharing the stories I’ve learned about Josh. My friend Drew enjoyed the bobbed wire story a lot. The peak was well worth all the pain and aches, the view was absolutely beautiful and I know he would have loved it being an outdoors man himself. I sincerely believe this experience will stay with me for a life time to come in a positive way. Whenever I feel like I can’t continue I’ll just think of Joshua and his winning attitude and I’ll push myself even harder. I would love an opportunity to talk with you three and get to know more about him. He seemed like a great man and a true team player.
Thank you for the lovely opportunity, it was an honor and a pleasure and I’d love to do it again on a tougher challenge. Sincerely Allen Kimball. God bless.
My name is Shawn Bickford, and I carried Joshua’s stone at the Baxter State Park 2015 event. I’m not the best at expressing feelings through words, but I’ll do my best. To begin with, it was an honor to carry your son’s stone. This is the third Summit Project hike that I have done, and each one is more memorable than the last. I’m sorry that I did not get a chance to meet you all, but maybe I will see you at future events. I did not know Joshua, but I know that he was an infantryman, as was I, and that means we are part of a special brotherhood. Living the way we lived, and doing the things we did on deployment builds a bond between people that is like a second family. The night before the hike, some of us were hanging out in the meeting hall, and I tried to explain this to some of them. It’s almost like we have two families: our biological family and the family made up of the brothers we relied on each day. Both are just as strong to me. It’s a shame that the two families rarely meet, because the men who were lost mean just as much to both groups. Every year, my platoon mates and I get together for a reunion in a different state. We laugh and cause trouble and remember old times, and we talk about the guys we lost like they were still there. And that’s part of the reason we were so willing to go through hell for each other, because we each knew that the others in our group would carry our memory forward. Those men will never leave our memory, so if you ever feel like you are alone in keeping your son’s memory alive, know that there are others out there that he touched who still think of him every day. I can say that from experience.
I mentioned this to you before, but I’ll say it again here. For a lot of us, it can be hard to find a purpose in life after we leave the military. Everything seems so trivial after what we’ve been through. The Summit Project has helped me to focus my energy toward something positive and meaningful, and has helped me get work through some of my own issues with grief. It may not be much consolation after everything you have been through, but you should take some sort of pride in the fact that Josh is still helping guys like me even after he’s gone. I was honored to learn his story, and I wish I could have met him. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes. Thank you.
“Comrades gather because they long to be with the men who once acted at their best; men who suffered and
sacrificed, who were stripped of their humanity. I did not pick these men. They were delivered by fate and the military. But I know them in a way I know no other men. I have never given anyone such trust. They were willing to guard something more precious than my life. They would have carried my reputation, the memory of me. It was a part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were so willing to die for one another. As long as I have memory, I will think of them all every day. I am sure that when I leave this world, my last thought will be of my family and my comrades. Such good men.â – George J. Marrett
Shawn Bickford, Clinton, ME
502nd Infantry Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
Thank you Shawn. Your words are beautiful and sincere… đ
I had the honor of carrying Joshâs stone for a charity 5k walk in Bangor. I chose Josh and fellow New Portland boy Andrew Hutchins. I wanted to ensure that as a fellow Combat Veteran, (and from New Portland) that my ruck march was a proper tribute to two true American heroes. In Army tradition, my ruck was weighted to 45 pounds and I did absolutely no train up to ensure my body would have to struggle to get through it. The struggle was real, (at 41, it was very real) and I could feel both boys pushing me each time my foot hit the ground. Though my body took a beating and required a longer recovery time than it used to, I would be honored and willing to go through it all again. MHANF.
John, Sharon and Katie,
I have started this letter many times, not quite sure what to say or how to say it. This event is one of those things that has had a significant effect on me. Although I have always had great respect for those in the military, it has never had a large impact on my life. My father, grandfather and many friends have been in the service but not in such a way that I, personally, have had to fear for their safety or get the news that they are not coming home. Because of this, I worried that I was not going to be able to do Josh justice.
When a family is able to open up their hearts and share the love that they have for their son/brother it makes possible for someone like me, a complete stranger to feel they knew him, and ultimately feel the loss. Through all of your wonderful stories of Josh, his sense of humor, his intelligence, his drive, his love of the outdoors and video games, but especially his faith, you have given me a chance to get to know him and for that I am thankful. I was very emotional throughout the day of the hike, starting with the 2 hour car ride when I was alone with my thoughts, to meeting Heather who last year had carried Josh’s stone, hearing my own voice quivering as I took my turn speaking about Josh and eventually when I was honored enough to pass the stone to Sharon. I am quite certain it would be impossible to be a part of this and not have this touch their heart in a big way.
The hike was difficult for me, not physically even though it was a tough hike. Hiking in a group is new to me. I almost always hike by myself or with one other person, but separately so I am by myself with my thoughts for the most part. I am a very independent person and it has always been difficult for me to accept, or ask for, help from others. During the hike when someone would offer their hand (Jennifer, I am thinking of you) my first instinct was to say ‘No, I’ve got it’. At those times I would think about how Josh was part of a team and how every part of the team depended on each other. I decided to take that hand when offered and make sure that the person offering knew that I appreciated it.
I will carry Josh in my heart from this day forward. I think of him often when I am out hiking. I am still processing all of my thoughts related to this hike and determining how I am going to incorporate all that I have learned from it into my life going forward. I have shared his story with many before this hike but also many since then. The day after the hike I went on a long walk with my daughter, Emma, who is 13. I shared the story of Josh and of the hike and it made me so proud when she said she would like to do something similar with friends.
One more thing before I sign offâŚA big thank you to Sharon for being there that day. As a mom I could not think of a more fitting end to this hike than to pass Josh’s stone on to his mom. It meant so much to me that you were there. Again, thank you to the whole family for sharing your son with me. I will cherish all of your memories.
Dolores
Dear Bernard family,
My name is Caleigh Copeland and Iâm a junior at Edward Little High School in Auburn. I had the honor of participating in the Summit Project, and carrying your son, Joshuaâs, rock up Bradbury Mountain. On my way up the mountain, I was thinking about how grateful, and appreciative I was of Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard for being so brave, and fighting for my life- while risking his own. People like Joshua have integrity, bravery, are selfless, heroic, and inspiring. The military career is not for me, but I will always support, and have respect for everyone who fights for our country. Iâll also make sure to say thank you to everyone I see wearing military apparel, because they deserve at least that.
From what Iâve learned about him, Joshua seemed like a fun, loving, motivated man, who always tried to lighten the mood by joking around and being funny. After hearing about the barbed wire story, and how he swore for what seemed like the first time ever, it really shows how kind and respectful he was about everything. Also, when I heard about how he drank wine for the first time, and even all of his friends and family were so surprised, but even more surprised when they found out his mom was the one who told him to. I respect that he had morals and goals in life and always succeeded in school. Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua, is now one of my role models and Iâm honored that I got to learn so much about him and got to carry his rock and give a speech about him when we reached the peak. I spoke about how grateful I was for his sacrifice and how he deserved to be here; and that I wish he was.
To Katie: I have a brother that I love dearly and used to also play games and run around outside all of the time. He is not involved in the army, but he travels a ton and heâs gone for long periods of time. I couldnât imagine losing him and going through what you and your family have gone through. I respect you and your family, and I know the bond between brother and sister and it must be so hard. But, you and your family all seem so strong and I acknowledge that and I know that I could never be as strong as you are. I bet you are a great sister.
Thank you all for being so strong and willing to let other people support your son, and honor him. It takes a lot of courage to be able to be reminded about something so tragic, and I respect how you appreciate the honoring everyone does for your son and other soldiers who have died serving our country. Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard will forever be in my thoughts and heart. He is one of our heroes.
Thank you,
Caleigh Copeland
Dear friends and family of Joshua M. Bernard,
I had the opportunity to bring the stone that represents Joshua up Bradbury Mountain. I would like to thank Josh for his service. He didn’t have to go to war but that’s what he wanted to do; fight so we could have our freedom.
From what I’ve heard about Josh, he was funny, had a strong fate, and was an outdoors kind of guy. When my group was walking up the mountain we got a little lost. The leaders of the group kind of went off track and instead of taking the scenic route, we took the route that went straight up. Even though the hike up was tiring, it was definitely worth it. What he did for us doesn’t even compare to how we hiked the mountain. When I got to the top and looked out I understood why Josh liked to be outdoors or go on a hike. The view was beautiful and we could see for miles. We could see the tops of trees and farm land and the start of a body of water. I wish Josh could have been here to see it. I bet he would have loved it.
Once again, I could never give enough thanks to Josh for his service. He’s done so much for this country and itâs sad to say that he isn’t here with us today to enjoy the beautiful state that we live in.
Sincerely, Grace Russell
Dear Bernard family,
It was an honor for me to carry your sons rock up Bradbury mountain. I have so much respect for people who serve for our country to keep us safe. I feel for your loss but you should be proud to have a son that fought so hard for others and put himself out in harms way to protect us. Bringing the rock up the mountain made me think how lucky we are to have people all around the world fighting for our freedom. Every day they have to be brave. Being outside and having to deal with the weather conditions and having to go into fights must be terrifying. While going up the mountain, I realized that nothing could prepare/ show me what it’s like to be in his position. Thank you so much for letting me carry your sonâs rock up the mountain. It was a pleasure.
Sincerely,
Kylie Bureau
Dear Bernard family,
On December fourth, my group and I carried your son’s rock up Bradbury Mountain. I’ve never personally experienced losing someone because of the military, but during this hike I thought about how difficult it would be to lose my brother. I can’t imagine the pain and suffering your family must have gone through. Before learning about Josh and before I put very much thought into how meaningful this hike was, I didn’t think that I was going to feel strong emotion about the fallen soldiers because I didn’t personally know them. Once everyone began talking about the soldier that they carried the stone up the mountain to honor, I found myself holding back tears. Learning about the courageous man that you raised/ grew up with was a life changing experience, and I want to thank your family and Josh for the sacrifices that were made when he fought for our country.
Sincerely,
Aleisha Thurston
On Sunday, May 29, 2016, I had the honor and the privilege of carrying the memorial stone of Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard, as part of TSP Team Red, in Baxter State Park. We summited The Owl.
Joshua, 21, of New Portland, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, and died Aug. 14 while supporting combat operations in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
To honor LCpl Joshua M. Bernard, his entire family, led by his sister Katie Bernard, retrieved this stone from their homestead in New Portland, Maine. John (Dad), Sharon (Mom).
To prepare for this hike, I learned as much as I could about Joshua, reading the statements from his family and several media posts I found.
“I know I join so many Mainers who will be forever grateful to this brave, young Marine for his sacrifice, courage and patriotism,” US Senator Susan Collins, stated.
From “theguardian.com”, in 2009: The son of a retired marine, Bernard, from New Portland, was described as a devout Christian, an Iraq war veteran, a keen snowboarder and an avid hiker. His father, John, described him as a “humble, shy, unassuming” man who did not smoke or drink and whose main friends were from his church group. Three weeks before Joshua died, Bernard had written to his congressman expressing frustration at what he said was a change in the rules of engagement to spare civilians, calling the move “disgraceful, immoral and fatal” to American forces in combat.
From “thefallen.militarytimes.com”: Bernard, 21, a rifleman from New Portland, Maine, died while he was supporting operations in Helmand province, military officials said. The combat deployment was the second for Bernard, who enlisted in November 2006 and joined Hawaii-based 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, in May 2007 and deployed with the battalion to Iraq in 2008, Marine Corps Base-Hawaii officials said in a news release. The battalion is operating as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Afghanistan.
Bernard had received the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, officials said.
Even though I never met Joshua, I felt like I had made a new friend, and as I spoke about him to others on the hike, and during the entire weekend, I was glad that I was keeping his memory alive. Joshua gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, and he will never be forgotten. I extend my deepest sympathies to Joshua’s family.
To John, Sharon, and Katie Bernard,
Participating in TSP is one of the most, if not the most, rewarding thing I have ever done. I am far richer in things you can not touch.
I started this project 9 months ago, and it has been a tremendous learning, emotional, and spiritual experience. I started out wanting to do some good, however, it seemed that I received more good than I was giving.
There can be no doubt the Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard was a brave and honorable man. I do not even begin to think that I could measure up to him. I only hope that I can learn from his devotion.
To the family of Joshua Bernard, I hope you don’t mind if I call on Joshua from time to time. Whenever I have tough choices to make, I try to imagine how Josh would respond.
I can assure you that the life of Lance Cpl Joshua M. Bernard has had a positive effect on me and that I will continue growing into a better person because I will always carry his spirit.
Sincerely,
Bertrand P. Galipeau
John, Sharon and Katie,
Today marks one week since I had the honor of carrying Joshuaâs stone and story up Cadillac Mountain. While the event ended that day, the impact of participating in the Summit Project will remain with me forever. Having grown up in a military family and serving myself, I thought I knew what sacrifice was all about. But it was not until I met with you (John and Sharon) to learn about Joshua and your family, and then sharing Joshuaâs story on top of that mountain, did I begin to truly understand what your entire family has sacrificed for this great nation.
As the hike started, I felt Joshua on my back. As I reflected on his story, I began to feel him in my heart. As I watched the two young boys who were hiking with our team and wanting to lead the group, I was taken back to your words about Joshua volunteering to take âpointâ on every patrol with his units in Iraq and Afghanistan.
At one point during the hike, I had the opportunity to carry the stone of another young Marine on top of my pack, and could envision Joshua doing the same for the Marines in his unit.
As we summited the mountain and viewed the scenery, I thought of how you described Joshuaâs love of the outdoors and his faith in God. Iâm certain he would have been moved by the beauty of Godâs work that was before us as we stood on top of that mountain.
The sharing of the stories of our fallen heroes was such an emotional experience and I hope that I did justice to Joshuaâs memory. One thing for sure, everyone on that mountain spoke from their hearts about the heroes they carried.
As I turned Joshuaâs stone back over to John at the end of the day, I felt that, while I no longer carry his stone, I am blessed to be able to carry his story. I pray that by carrying Joshuaâs stone and story on this hike, in some small way, I have helped to ease some of your pain.
I was honored to be able to share Joshuaâs legacy with the others on that mountain and am committed to continue to share his story.
Respectfully,
Gary Wright
On October 14th of this year, I had the privilege of carrying Joshua Bernardâs stone and legacy during one of the toughest, most grueling challenges I have participated within since I had left the Marine Corps almost 3 years ago to the day. I am proud to say that it was him who kept pushing me forward during this event and was undoubtedly the most prominent reason I was able to complete this challenge. The experience was powerful and nothing short of amazing.
I served in Hawaii at MCB Kaneohe Bay during the same period as Josh in an adjacent unit under the same infantry division. While I did not know Josh personally, I was aware of the incident when it took place. It wasnât until I became involved in The Summit Project immediately following my EAS that I learned it was he who had passed during my stay, who he was, and where he was from. Ever since, I have been searching for an opportunity to carry both him and his story on a trek that would honor him and be worthy of the sacrifice he made for all of us.
I am so very sad to admit, I am not nearly as physically fit as I was during my time in the Marine Corps. While I had completed a GoRuck Light in 2015, I was very much unaware of just how difficult this GoRuck Tough challenge would become. I often climb and ruck with a pack of 75 lbs or more as my most favorite means of staying in shape, though this event was more than simply rucking for miles on end with a weighted pack. It proved to be a test of strength, of wills, of teamwork and leadership. The challenges that lay ahead of us would soon leave me exhausted, burned out, and on the edge of throwing in the towel.
It was while participating in the first challenge at the very first stop that I realized the weight carried in my pack far exceeded that of which I should have carried during this event. I struggled to complete the exercises there on the East End Beach and as much as I hate to admit, it was there on that beach with the pack lifted over my head that I questioned very seriously my ability to complete the next 12 hours of grueling challenges which awaited. I can say with absolute certainty that the only reason I continued to push on was knowing that I had Joshâs stone resting at the top of that pack, wrapped in the American flag, and that if I chose to give up, I would be giving up on him. That knowledge became to sole driving factor that kept pushing me forward as we trekked on mile after mile, challenge after challenge for the rest of the night.
During the event, as morning finally broke over the horizon, the cadre stood with the American flag in hand which we had carried proudly throughout the entire night. And he asked us to come forward and talk about this flag truly meant to us. While I had no intention during this trek to remove Josh from my pack or really even share with anyone the extra weight I was carrying during this journey, at this moment his story needed to be told. And as I held the American flag in one hand and Joshâs stone in another, 44 tired, hungry, aching men and women stood there in silence as they listened to Joshâs story. We didnât cross the finish line until 10am the next morning after 15 miles of treachery, countless challenges, and a handful of penalties were placed upon us. It was in that moment that I looked back at this feat and gave 100% credit of its completion to Josh. I had entered this event hoping to carry him the entire way, but instead it was him who had carried me.
Thank you to all of the Bernard family for allowing me this most incredible opportunity. Thank you Josh for all you have given us and all that you continue to give. Keep watch over us, my friend. I hope to see you someday. Semper Fi.
Dear Bernard Family,
My name is Andrew H, a sophomore in high school. Enrolled in the JROTC program at my school, I strive to be like Joshua.
I was honored to carry your son and brothers stone up to the summit of Little Bigelow Mt. This meant so much to me, to continue to remember such a courageous, caring, and funny guy. Throughout the entire climb it was an amazing feeling knowing that I was responsible for carrying the legacy of such a man, brother, son, and marine. At times throughout the snowy, wet climb I could almost feel the presence of him, pushing me to the top. Your words saying he always would take point when patrolling with his other marines; sank so deep with me, leading me to take point for our group during the climb. The least I could do is try and make sure his legacy lived on, but lived on in the closest manner he would want it to be done.
This has taught me so much that is unmeasurable, and not visible. In spirit, in mind, and in heart. The climb as a whole is one of the proudest moments in my entire life, so thank you John and Sharon for raising such a man, and thank you Katie for telling stories about your brother. Your son, and brother has changed a high school student more than you could ever imagine.
To the Bernard family â On 28May2017, I had the honor and privilege to carry the story and stone of your son and brother LCpl Joshua M Bernard on Mt. Katahdin. I want to share with you how humbling it was for me to receive his Memorial stone and carry Joshâs legacy that day. As I typed the first draft on a flight to Iceland, the in-flight map showed that we flew right over Mt. Katahdin. It was very fitting, because on the day that I got to be a custodian of Joshâs legacy, we were right down there.
While doing some research in to Joshâs life, I found a common theme that rings true for young men raised in small northern towns. One of the things that resonated with me included his love and appreciation for just being outdoors in nature and wilderness. But I was moved the most by the three pillars of Honor, Discipline and Faith that that he lived his life by.
Josh stood firm with a personal ethos as a young man in the USMC to abstain from cursing, drinking and smoking. I consider it remarkable that he stayed convicted to those, and that he remained humble about his stance. It must have been that same inner confidence that gave him the courage to volunteer to lead Marines on missions again and again. I can only imagine what he must have seen and encountered in those 3 years with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
At my age, Iâm not leading the charge up front on a mountain like Katahdin. But I did my best to honor Joshâs character and his service as a leader of the small packs I found myself in as the team stretched out on the climb. I used humor and encouragement to keep morale and confidence up. I tried to act as a guide or servant as needed to keep the pack moving upward. When I found myself getting tired or losing confidence, I reminded myself that Josh WAS a leader, and how I owed him my best to emulate that desire to lead, no matter how I felt.
To help ensure that Joshâs legacy of leading from the front continues, I will focus on his strength of Discipline to improve myself by working toward beating my habit of cursing when I get upset (itâll be a challenge, butâŚ). I will also focus on being a more effective leader in the various community and church groups that I am part of. My hope is that by sharing his 3 pillar ethos with developing young men and women, and modelling those parts of his character, others will follow and help to make a positive impact at the grass roots level.
I will continue to share his story with other leaders that I meet. While this cannot bring Josh back, I hope that it helps his legacy to continue making an impact on future young leaders of our towns, state and nation.
Semper memento Halo – Weâll keep leading from the front for you.
Russ Shoberg (aka Sensei)
Dear Bernard family I had the honor of carrying your sons stone on the hike at Acadia state park on Oct14th
words do not come easily to me ,there were many emotions that day, I enjoy the out doors and try to hike as much as I can, this was the best hike that I have ever done, I believe the spirits of the fallen were with us
that day, at the summit we sat in a circle and talked about the persons stone that we were carrying , I felt
extreme sadness at that time, but I felt blessed also to have had that honor to do so.
Sincerely Howard Smith
Semper Fi
Dear Bernard family,
My name is Joshua G, im 16 and i go to Nokomis Regional High School and participate in the JROTC program through the school. Recently, June 8th, our class hiked Tumbledown and i had the absolute honor or carrying your son/brothers stone throughout the course of our hike. It was warm and buggy throughout the hike and on top of that i had just gotten staples in my leg the day before, so the hike for me at times was very strenuous. Whenever i would struggle on my way up the mountain i would get lost in thoughts about LCpl Bernard and use that as a motivation to push on up the mountain. Your son/brother seems like such a courageous man, someone to look up to, especially being so young. I want to join the service after high school and although i never had the honor of meeting your son/brother his legacy makes me look up to him. When iâm out of high school i want to do something similar to what your son/brother was doing in the service. When reading about your son he seems like such a courageous leader, a man who was very passionate about all his work. It could never be said enough as to how truly sorry I am for your familyâs loss. I could never imagine losing a loved one as close to me as your family was to Joshua. Of course you will never forget him, but having the privilege to carry his stone with me made it so i too will never forget his story. Days before the hike i got home from school and talked to my mom about your sonâs/brotherâs legacy. I then got home from school the next day and she was telling me things about your sonâs/brotherâs life that i didnât know. She had sat for a while earlier that day researching his because she could see how engaged i was and how excited i was to learn more about your sonâs/brotherâs legacy. I will continue thinking about LCpl Bernard and his legacy, especially through my struggles i will think about the pain endured by both your son/brother as well as your family. My point anyhow is that my family and myself will never forget your sonâs/brotherâs legacy. Finally, thank you for the opportunity to be able to carry a piece of your loved one with me as i hiked with my peers thinking about the lives of those in Maine who have killed themselves after leaving the service, suffered from cancer, gotten into car accidents, and those like your son who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Best wishes to your family, Joshua G.
This weekend was the second time I was able to carry the stone and story of a fallen brother in arms. I knew this was going to be a tough mission for me because I didn’t know the trail, my lungs had taken a beating from asthma due to the humidity this summer and I wasn’t able work out as hard as I would have liked because of the asthma and still recovering from a knee surgery that kept me out of last year’s climb. I knew if I put my trust in God he would help me during the difficult parts.
His biggest help was placing me with the teammates I hiked with. I couldnt have asked for a better group. Their encouragement and assistance, once I let go of my stubbornness to complete MY mission, reminded me of my time in the Army. I was reminded it wasn’t MY mission. It was OUR mission and no man/woman or child was going to be left behind. Along the trail, a teammate asked if I was related to my soldier. I indicated that I was not, and that the first hike I did, I chose a soldier who had succumb to the invisible wounds of war, because of my believe and involvement with organizations for the 23 lost each day. This year I left it to fate. As I learned about Joshua I found a solid connection with some similar traits. We decided that sometimes the hiker chooses the stone/soldier, and sometimes the stone choses the hiker.
Knowing the emotions involved in the sharing circle, as I had participated before, I had some notes so I would not forget to cover all I wanted to share. Once again, emotions flowed and I think I only looked at my notes once. As the words came out I remember what was stored in my heart as I learned about Joshua.
Joshua had a great love for God, his family, and his fellow Marines. He had courage, choosing to lead point on every mission his team was sent on, and there were many during his 2 deployments. He had the respect of those same men. Respect for his faith, but also respect because he did not judge those who did not follow his same path. His team respected him so much they gave him his first call sign of “Holy man”  They also gave him his last “Halo”
After the hike we return to base camp and complete a circle to return our stone. The first year the family was unable to make it so I handed the stone to a Patriot Guard member. This weekend, as my turn approached, I began to get nervous as I am not a great public speaker. I had someone tell me to make sure I brought the microphone closer to my mouth as the sound system was not carrying as they thought.  Joshua’s name was called and I did as instructed and indicated that I had carried the story and stone of Joshua Bernard. My eyes then scanned to see who would receive this blessed stone. I then saw his father approach. My emotions went crazy. I didn’t know if I should tear, smile, or faint. As I grasped your hand and felt the strength of the foundation of this family, I couldn’t help but feel pride and love from both of us for a son, brother, Christian and Marine. I wish that I had been able to find you in the lunch tent after I returned my gear to tge camp site but I did not see you upon my return. One day I would like to sit and learn more about Joshua.
As the Angelversary approaches (14NOV09), I would like the family to know, that I now carry Joshua in my heart and thoughts and he will not be forgotten as I continue to share his story to this day and beyond.
With Honor and Respect,
Don Sargent
Well written and brings with it many emotions. Here are a few respects for the hike that you did with adverse conditions for self, lessons that you learned along the way from my to our, respect for how your honored Joshua and many more. Tears; tears for all we have lost, tears for the comradeship we have found in others belonging to a group of TSP members a group that none of us have ever wanted to belong to. However, this family of Gold Stars understand our feelings, our holes in our hearts and thankful to and for the hikers honoring our loved ones. Thank you Don for your letter to further everyone’s continuous healing.
Over memorial day weekend at BSP’s summit project event I had the distinct honor and privilege to carry the stone, memory and most of all the life of Marine Lance CPL. Joshua Bernard. I have hiked at prior summit projects before and each time have had an amazing experience and it has always been different from the prior one. This time it was new ground again as I was honored with the responsibility of not only carrying Joshua with me but leading team gold on this amazing weekend. I met amazing people and got to share Joshua with them. a few of them even knew about his story and since I hadn’t been able to learn much about him prior to the weekend that was a big help. Especially Tate Knowles I got a chance to talk to him a bit about Joshua and learned quite a bit.
Joshua was a man who cared about the important things. His family, god, and his country. In my opinion he couldn’t have picked a better 3. I learned he was referred to as Halo because of his love for the game, he even was good enough to win a few tournament’s. He was always leading by example, always protecting always doing what was right. When on deployment when him and his team were on a mission he always had there backs. Leading, protecting. That’s just who he was. I was honored to have been able to learn about Joshua and carry his life with me. I will carry his beliefs with me everyday whether it be leading or helping people or just living a good life. And I have him to thank for that. Joshua may have passed on but he will never be forgotten and he will live on through us all in his beliefs. Thank you for allowing me this honor of carrying your son’s life with me it was a true pleasure.
Sincerely Chris Douphinett
I had the honor to carry the stone of Marine Lance CPL Joshua Bernard to the summit of Mt . Agamenticus on Friday June 14th 2019. Unfortunately I was not able to speak to you, his family before the hike .
He was such a young man and such a tragedy that he died in Afghanistan. I do know that he wanted to be a Marine and follow in his Dads foot steps .
I will forever carry his story in my heart after this experience and I hope to meet his family one day so I can learn more about him .
The stone was very heavy but I was determined to carry it to the top . It was not as heavy as the loss I am sure you feel having lost him . I have three sons and can not imagine the pain this has caused you . Our children are our legacy . Your son / Brother Joshua has left a huge legacy defending our right to be free.
I will never forget his name and face . Thank you for bringing him to the fore front and allowing us to honor him in this way . God bless , Sincerely Joyce Dumas
To the Bernard family and friends,
On Saturday, September 28, 2019, it was my honor to carry the stone and story of your Joshua up Cadillac Mt. This was my first experience with the Summit Project, and it is one I will not forget. The whole way up I could feel his stone in my pack, a constant reminder of him and the ultimate sacrifice he gave for our country. Near the summit a man stopped and asked some of us who we were carrying. I felt so proud to say Joshuaâs name and wished I could have told him more. Once we reached the top and sat in our circle, it was finally time to share some of his life with the group. It was such an honor. He was somebody whose life I would have greatly respected, given his strong moral code, faith in God, love of family, and active outdoor adventures. I felt connected to him from the first time I read about him.
This experience meant a great deal to me, and I want to thank you for the gift of your son. I was so honored to carry his stone and story. God bless you all. With respect, Sue Friborg
To the family and friends of Joshua Bernard,
My name is Jimbo Theinert from Shelter Island, New York a small island of about 2,000 year round residents. This past Memorial Day, May 25th, 2020, I had the honor and privilege to carry a stone I made in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard on a hike around Shelter Island. Like many of us I have been challenged with the disruption of normal life that has happened in 2020. Over the past few years I have made it a point to exert myself physically as I reflect on the service and sacrifice of others. While I did not get to learn a tremendous amount about Joshua, I was honored to share his name, rank, branch, and dates with some local friends who completed an 18-mile hike around the perimeter of Shelter Island.
Our group was only four, but it was the best substitute I could find for my Red Teammates given the current situation. Over the course of the 18 miles we hiked on beach, marsh, and bulkhead. Having to get wet a number of times; either just our boots or full on swimming I felt the connection to the amphibious nature of the USMC. It didnât hurt that two of my four teammates are Marines. The hike challenged each of us, and we found ourselves limping back to our starting location after 8 hours of moving. Soaking wet from needing to swim a fair amount in the final section. No matter the difficulties presented to us, we had smiles on our faces the whole time.
The stone that I made in honor of Joshua made the full hike with us, and per the recommendation of one of my teammates it was left at our final location. I had initially thought I would bring the stone to Maine for TSP in Acadia, but the thought of others on Shelter Island being able to see it and think of Joshua convinced me that itâs exactly where itâs supposed to be. Despite having lived on this island for most of my life, this is a hike I have never completed. Getting to do so on Memorial Day, with two Marines and my cousin, with Joshâs stone in tow was a great way to honor his sacrifice. I cannot wait to come to Maine and recreate this experience with the members of Team Red at TSP at Acadia.
Best,
Jimbo Theinert
Shelter Island, NY
This year I participated in the annual hike for The Summit Project event but in Hawaii. Unfortunately, due to Covid I was not able to attend the actual event, but being able to still hike and carry his legacy was an honor. I was able to carry the legacy and virtual stone of LCPL Joshua Bernard. My dad was the one to recommend him because he was stationed in Hawaii on MCBH the same time my father was. I was immediately interested in hearing about his story and learning more about it. Before my hike I was able to read and learn more about him through my dad, and others who have honored him before me. It is always a heavy weight learning about the heroes behind the stone and what they really put on the line to serve this country. On my trek I took a couple of friends with me and explained to them why I was doing this and being able to spread the overall message of TSP and Joshua’s amazing sacrifice and story with people was overwhelming in the best way. Itâs a heavy feeling carrying one of the heroes’ stories and thinking about all the small moments to the ultimate sacrifices they have made during their military services. Once reaching the top of the summit itâs an eye opening experience to just sit and realize that all that hard work from practice hikes, heavy breathing, and sore feet was all worth it. I had the opportunity to just take off that weight and heavy feeling and carry it for his family for a day made me feel like I could make a difference and I was honored to be able to show my love for his family & his life story. I thank TSP & the Bernard family for allowing me to do so.
To the Family of Joshua
I had the distinct honor and pleasure of caring Joshuaâs stone at Acadia national Park this year. Arriving very late on Friday night to grab a couple hours of sleep. Awaking very early in the morning to meet up with all the hikers for the day. It was cold wet rainy day with lots of lightning on the Mountain. We were not able to hike Cadillac Mountain due to the lightning and thunderstorms. We moved our departure time out a couple hours to see if the weather would clear. When the weather did not clear we took an alternate route to Echo Lake. Which is a little over 3 mile ruck through the woods to a nice sandy beach at the lake. We did part of the campground on foot and not shortly after we were leaving the rain stopped cleared out for us. I felt so Josh was trying to make the best of our situation. We arrived at the lake as we gather in a small circle close to the water to participate in the circle ceremony. It was very tough at first start talking about Josh but I suddenly felt a weight lifted off my shoulder as I began to speak. The sun came out for a very brief time and it was very comforting knowing that our heroes are still looking out for us, to make our days better a weeks better and our lives better. After a little over an hour of taking pictures conversing with other groups about our heroes getting more information on our heroes from other hikers that Iâve hiked his stone. With the sun still shining we started our hike back to base camp through the woods people still talking and chatting about their heroes. The conversations that make you think yet it warms your heart. As we arrived back at base camp we gather under the big tent once again to speak of our heroes. Just as everybody gets under the big tent the skies opened up and it rained again. Once again more proof that our heroes are looking after us. Again I want to thank you and your family for your ultimate sacrifice that Josh had given for our freedom and our protection. I will speak of his name and his memory will last a lifetime for me.
Sincerely,
Shawn Boutaugh USN
Dear Joshua,
It was a true honor to carry your stone and story over Memorial Day weekend. I will not lie I called upon you and your strength many times while hiking with Team Gold at BSP for The Summit Project. You helped this old man make sure that I kept putting one foot in front of the other, and when the bugs and flies got crazy bad. I could fill your hand on my shoulder saying âthis is nowhere as bad as your time in Iraq. Your dedication to duty helped with leading the way and keeping everyone together. I even chuckled when I was singing the Marine Corps Hymn when it came to the 3rd verse, because I believe most Marines kind of make that one up. But we both had a laugh on that one. When we got to the summit everything became surreal. I started to cry when I realized for the first time that you passed just a couple of months before I retired from the Marine Corps. You lead from the front, you were a Marine that other Marines wanted to be. You are my brother, and that will never change.
As painful, emotional, and rewarding this past weekend was. You made me a better man. You made me remember to not harp on the bad things that are happening around me but to find the good in everything. You reminded me that there is someone watching over us each and every day. To reach a hand out and ask someone how there day is going. Although I might have said a couple of bad words that day you didnât hold it against me, your faith helped us both to make it through. I miss you, and I will continue to share your story with others. I promise you that your name will never be forgotten.
SSgt Scott B. Carson
USMC Ret.
Dear Katie, Sharon, and John,
Over the course of this week Iâve reflected on my experience of carrying Joshâs stone to the top of Mount Agamenticus on July 30th. Every single day since the hike Iâve had Joshâs story lingering in my head, and I consistently find myself thinking of him. After reading and learning about the kind of young man Josh was, I truly feel deeply honored to have been able to carry his stone.
One of the traits that Josh carried that stood out to me the most was the honor he walked with. He was a young man of faith and that is good. He walked with the concept and principle of being a silent witness. He didnât need to be overly outspoken about what he believed in because by his actions people could tell he was different, in the most respectable and honorable way. He lived true to the values and principles that he believed in. I can tell you with certainty that individuals who live this lifestyle (one of being a silent witness and living true to those principles that not everyone else may follow) always leaves an impact on othersâ lives. I am certain that Josh left a great and positive impact on those who met him and got the chance to be around him. Individuals who lead by example are some of the most impactful people to their peers, and I can tell Josh was certainly one of those individuals. It takes a man of great strength and character to live faithfully to the principles he claims to believe.
Today I am roughly the same age as Josh was at his passing, and that brought a great deal of perspective to me. To know that someone my age was willing to sacrifice their life for my freedom is incredibly humbling. Words alone cannot do enough justice to how humbled I am. Josh was a man of honor and he held onto that honor all the way through. In honor of Josh, Iâll continue to share his story. It certainly wonât end with me or this summit. Iâve told my family about Josh and how amazing and honorable of a person he was, and Iâm sure theyâll tell others as well. Iâll continue to share his story and the kind of person he was with the people I cross paths with in life. His story, sacrifice, and legacy will most definitely carry on, as they all should.
Humbly and sincerely,
Ben Balcerak
To the Family of Lance CPL Joshua M. Bernard
On September 24, 2022, I had the honor to carry Joshâs stone; and the privilege of sharing his story on the summit of Cadillac Mountain. It was a very inspiring journey to the top of this beautiful mountain in Acadia National Park. We did struggle a little with high winds from Hurricane Fiona, but everyone successfully summited, knowing we each had an important task to accomplish. I believe having Joshâs stone in my pack, as extra weight, was a bonus.
This was my first but definitely not my last Summit Project Event. We climbed the mountain as Team White. The 18 hikers and our stones gathered in a circle to talk about each hero. I had goose bumps, tears and smiles listening to the different stories. As a mother, I canât imagine losing a child. I have always had great respect for those in the military, but it has never had a large impact on my personal life, until now. It was an emotional and rewarding experience, which helped make me a better American.
I will carry Josh in my heart from this day forward. I will continue to think of him and the several other fallen heroes I learned about during this amazing event. When I am out hiking or exploring, I will honor our Maine Heroes. When Iâm feeling down or lonely, I will call on Josh and our faith— he will always remain on my team.
Josh was a young, intelligent, honest man whom was quite funny. They say he was a hard guy to stay mad at for long, often saying âturn that frown upside downâ. So as I go fourth and may struggle on my next hike, or tomorrowâs task or next month’s journey, I will remember Josh, our fallen hero â and smile with pride carrying on his legacy.
Thank you for this opportunity; it was such an honor. I want to thank you and your family for your ultimate sacrifice that Josh has given for our freedom and our protection. I promise you that Lance CPL Joshua M. Bernard will never be forgotten.
Sincerely, Nicolle
My name is Rachel Sullivan, and Iâm a 4th Grade teacher at Old Town Elementary School in Old Town, Maine. Iâm also a Marine Mom. It was an honor to teach my students about LCpl Joshua Bernard and his family. We took his stone on a meaningful hike through the University of Maineâs forest land behind our school after researching his life. We also wrote letters to your family and hope they bring a smile to your faces. Josh proved to be a wonderful example of living with humility and staying true to your beliefs for me and my students.
The following letters were hand written submissions by Mrs. Sullivanâs 4th grade class at Old Town Elementary School in Old Town, ME:
Dear Bernard Family,
My name is xxxx and I am nine years old. Me and my classmates have been learning about Joshua Bernard and are sorry for your loss. We have done a tiny hike with his stone. We learned he was loyal and humble and that he passed away at the young age of twenty one years old. We’ve learned that he was funny and was home schooled. We have watched your video and shortly after we learned that Joshua’s father was a Marine too. We have learned that Joshua and his sister were really close to being best friends. We learned that Joshua scored the 2nd highest score on his ASVAB test in Maine. We learned he was a quiet witness and passed away in Afghanistan.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
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Dear Bernard Family,
My name is xxxxxx. I am 10 years old and I love to play soccer. I also like watching the World Cup. This week we learned about your son Josh. While we learned about him, we learned that he was a quiet witness and he was faithful. We also learned that he loved the outdoors, but he also loved gaming. On Friday, we took a hike to honor Josh. Where we too the hike was in the back of our school on a trail in the woods. I got to hold the rock on our hike. It was very heavy but I kept walking because I know how much the rock meant to your family and Josh. In our research we learned that he got the 2nd ASVAB score in Maine. He was funny and he was humble, loyal, and close to his sister. Thank you for your son’s service and I am sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
xxxxxx
—————
Dear Bernard Family,
I am sorry for your loss. Josh sounded like a nice person from what I learned. My name is xxxxx. I live in Bradley, Maine. I learned that he was a Marine and that he loved the outdoors. I also learned that he was funny and a good friend, and also home schooled. I also learned that he was a quiet witness. I loved learning about Joshua. Thank you for your son’s service, and thank you for your service Mr. Bernard.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
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Dear Bernard Family,
My name is xxxxxx. I’m 9 years old. I learned ho Josh loved the outdoors. And Joshua and Kate were close because they were both home schooled. I thought it was cool Joshua and his dad were both Marines. I also learned that he was loyal, humble, faithful, a quiet witness, and he loved to play games. We went on a hike to represent Joshua. There were a few small puddles and a really big puddle. There was one small bridge that we went on. I saw a farm on the hike. On the walk, some of us got picked to hold Joshua’s stone. I was one person that got picked to hold the stone. It was a tiny bit heavy but I was happy I got to hold it. I’m sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
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Dear Bernard Family,
Hi, I’m xxxxxx. Today we are learning about the Fallen Hero, Josh or Joshua. He was a brave young man. We found out that he was a Marine and a Quiet Witness which means he lived his truth. We are extremely sorry about your loss. We know he was very close to his sister, Katie Bernard because they both were home schooled. I know that the rock was very heavy because it meant the world to you. He was very funny. He had the second highest ASVAB score in Maine. Have a great day, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
—————
Dear Bernard Family,
My class went on a hike behind Old Town Elementary School. My class learned Josh and his dad were Marines and Josh was a fallen hero. We also learned that Josh was really close to his sister Katie Bernard. Josh was loyal and humble and he lived his truth. I’m sorry for your loss. One more thing we learned is that he was a quiet witness and he was faithful. The one time he swore his Marine friends said his roof fell off.
My name is xxxxx. I’m in fourth grade and I’m 10. I just had my 10th birthday in November. I love going outside with my siblings and friends like Josh did. I’m really close to my family too. Thank you for your service Mr. Bernard and Joshua’s service too.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
—————
Dear Bernard Family,
My name is xxxxx. I am nine years old. I know that Joshua liked to play outside with his sister, Katie, and he liked to game. We took a hike to honor Joshua M. Bernard. We all took the stone with us. Josh was funny, loyal, humble, faithful quiet witness and lived his truth. He was a good friend to many people. Joshua was home schooled and very close to his sister. Joshua and Mr. Bernard were Marines. Joshua got the second highest on the ASVAB test. I am sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
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Dear Bernard Family,
My name is xxxxx. I am 10 years old. I live in Old Town (of course). I am sorry for your loss. What I have learned about Josh is that you call him a quiet witness, and I like that. I know he didn’t live long and I am sorry. I know he was 21 and I was honored to learn about him. I bet it was fun having him around. I know what it feels like because my Pepere passed away just a couple months ago, but this is about you, not me. On the hike when it was my turn to hold the rock, I felt hope in my heart and love in my soul. I hope you feel better after reading this letter.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
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Dear Bernard Family,
I am sorry for your loss. Joshua was a great Marine like his dad. Thank you for your son’s service. He really was a quiet witness and lived his truth. His stone was heavy like you are heavy hearted from his loss.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
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Dear Bernard Family,
Thank you for your son’s service. Thank you for Mr. Bernard’s service. I feel sorry for your loss. We have learned that Josh was close to his sister. He was a fallen hero. My name is xxxxx and I like sports.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxxx
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Dear Bernard Family,
Hi, my name is xxxxxx. I loved learning about your fallen hero. One thing that I have to say is thank you for your service Mr. Bernard. I carried the rock on the hike and just from that I believe that Josh was a good man. One more thing is that I’m sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
—————
Dear Bernard Family,
I am sorry for your loss. Josh was a faithful person. He loved the outdoors. Josh liked playing games, inside and outside. He was funny and a good friend. I learned that he got the 2nd highest ASVAB score in Maine. Also thank you for your son’s service.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
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Dear Bernard Family,
I am sorry for your loss of Josh đ . We learned that he passed in Afghanistan. He lived his truth. He was very close to his sister, Katie, and he was 21 when he passed away. I am 10 years old. I live in Bradley, Maine. Thank you for your son’s service and thank you for your service Mr. Bernard.
Sincerely,
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Dear Bernard Family,
My name is xxxxxx. I’m 9 years old. I’m sorry for your loss. I have learned a lot about Josh and his life. We have taken his rock on a hike with us. He was a great man.
Sincerely,
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Dear Bernard Family,
Hi my name is xxxxxx. I am 10 years old. I live in Old Town. I heard you live in New Portland, Maine. I always wonder how it is there. I learned Josh was 21 when he died. I am sorry for your loss. It’s been 13 years no since he died. We heard the barned wire story on the video. It was funny but sad at the same time. I learned Mr. Bernard was a Marine too.
Sincerely,
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Dear Bernard Family,
I am very sorry for your loss. The hike was very fun. I heard that Josh was a very good friend. I will share his truth.
Sincerely,
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Dear Bernard Family,
My name is xxxxxxx. I am a 4th grader. I am sorry for your loss. Our class learned that Josh was faithful, lived his truth and was humble.
The hike was fun. I will have his story with me everywhere I go. I will tell people about his story.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx
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Dear Bernard Family,
I am xxxxxxx from Old Town, Maine. I am in fourth grade and we learned writing about your son. The name of the project was called Summit Project. My teacher said he died when he was 21. He served in Afghanistan as a Marine. His dad was a Marine too. I think Joshua was a very good friend in the state. I knew he was faithful. And he loved the outdoors. And he was a gamer. Josh wanted to be home schooled. He was a funny and goofy child and man. And he was very loyal to his family.
from xxxxxxx
To the Family of Marine LCPL Joshua M. Bernard
I had the privilege to carry the stone of this amazing young Marine for the 10th anniversary TSP hike up Cadillac Mountain on September 23, 2023. This was my first hike with TSP although I have followed the organization for some time. I was very nervous leading up to this hike. Even though I have hiked many miles, I have never done any hiking in Acadia. I was assigned to the Blue Team and the ascent of the Pemetic Northwest and West Face Trails to summit. To prepare, I did some research of the area, the terrain, and especially the elevation. I kept seeing words like difficult, strenuous, and steep. I immediately began to question if I would be prepared or if I would be a weak link in the mission. I tried to increase my training and be as ready as possible to ensure that I could fulfill my role. I also began to prepare by trying to learn as much as I could about my assigned hero, Joshua. I read the letters of past hiker experiences as well as watching the incredible video that you, his family made. I would say that those stories shared were the ones that truly touched my heart, and I began to get the true sense of who this young man was.
The day of the hike was a beautiful fall day and perfect hiking weather. We all gathered at basecamp for a briefing and to receive our stones. Our team operated like we had done numerous missions together. We had strong leadership and many seasoned TSP hikers, as well as a few newbies like me. I did not realize at first that my anxiousness and anxiety had sort of just gone away. The hike was still challenging, but it was not an impossible feat. I had a great team around me and the stone I was carting was definitely a source of reassurance. At all the rest stops and breaks we took; I would remove the stone from my bag. Sometimes this was for a photo, and at times it was just for me to reflect and remember the reason I was there. We did have some struggles but met all the challenges and made the summit as a unit. Once we made the summit, we gathered for the circle ceremony and began to remember our heroes. As I got to share his story, I was overcome with emotion. I had not prepared for that. I wanted to impart how inspired I was by someone of such a young age having such deep faith.
As I reflect now, I can see how Joshua was present in all things during this hike. His story served as an inspiration and source of guidance that encouraged me to face the challenges of the day. His steadfastness and resilience in the face of adversity; being a Marine who stood by his moral code, is just a remarkable display of his faith. The strength to navigate those challenges would seem impossible to most. I believe that his moral compass and commitment to service are a testament to that as well. They can serve as a reminder to others of the power of faith in overcoming challenges.
It was an honor to carry Joshuaâs stone. Thank you for sharing your memories and helping paint the portrait of Joshua. This is an experience that I will cherish forever. This was a profoundly enriching and meaningful journey and I look forward to my next opportunity to hike with TSP again.
Very Respectfully,
Libbi Magoon
My name is Bridgette, I was honored to carry Lance Corporal Bernard’s rock up Tumbledown Mountain on 5/21/24.
It was an exhausting hike in the hot and humid weather of central Maine. I learned that he never swore since the one time, and by his own choices never drank alcohol except the one time when he was sick. Thank you for giving me the chance for a wonderful experience,
I’m very sorry for the loss.
Dear Bernard Family, my name is Tristan Petersen and I was honored to carry LCPL Joshua Bernard’s stone on the Ruck for the Fallen at Pineland Farms this year. I was extremely moved by how much integrity Joshua had – didn’t swear or drink but once. I was also touched by the fact that he shared a lot in common with my nephew, who is also a young LCPL in the Marines (just graduated boot camp last summer at Parris Island). I think the 2 of them would have made quite good friends!
It was much hotter than I anticipated for a Saturday morning at 9am, probably due to the humidity. This was my first ruck ever, and although I did specifically train for it a week prior with a pack on my back, I wasn’t sure it would be enough. This training, but moreso carrying Joshua’s spirit, is what carried me thru the race.
Very sorry for your loss and may you cherish the memories you have of him. A fine young man.
To the Bernard Family:
As I reflect on my recent hike with The Summit Project in memory of Marine Lance Cpl Joshua M. Bernard, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and humility. This experience holds a special place in my heart, and Iâd like to share some of the thoughts and emotions I encountered along the way.
The morning of the hike was a beautiful, brisk one, though I must admit there was a moment where I wasnât sure if Iâd even be able to make the trek. (This is the first time I tell this story) I tend to get car sick easily, and the bus ride to the trailhead turned into quite an adventure as we took several wrong turns, leading us on a detour around Mount Desert Island. As the minutes dragged on, I began to feel the nausea creeping in, and soon enough, the sweats followed. I had to lie down with my hat over my face and prayâhard. My biggest concern was letting down my team and Joshuaâs family. But after a few deep breaths and some water once we had arrived, I was fortunate to recover and regain my focus.
Once we began the hike, the weight of Joshuaâs stone in my pack mirrored the emotional weight I carried with me: the weight of his story, his sacrifice, and his familyâs profound loss. Though I do not have children of my own and cannot fully comprehend the loss of a child, I resonated deeply with Joshuaâs sister, Katie, and her sentiment, âYou never find a better friend than your brother.â I reflected on my love for my four older brothers during the hike and especially thought of the one who served in the Army National Guard, whom I am lucky to hug today. The bond between siblings, especially when one serves in the military, is a unique and profound one, and I found comfort in knowing that Joshua and Katie shared a similar closeness.
It had been over four years since I last hiked with The Summit Project, but coming back to honor someone as strong in their faith and convictions as Joshua felt deeply meaningful. His strength to stay true to himself despite external pressures resonated with me, as did his quiet leadership and faith-based example. I admired his ability to lead by actions rather than words, a quality that made him not only a loyal friend but also a dedicated Marine and protector of those he loved.
I may have begun the day unsure of my own strength, but by the end of the hike, I was reminded that carrying someone elseâs story is an honor and a responsibility, one that transforms the journey into something far greater than any physical feat. I will carry Joshuaâs spirit with me always, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to honor his courage and sacrifice.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Sophie