36, of Waterville, Maine; assigned to the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.; killed in a CH-46E helicopter crash in Kuwait.
To honor Maj Jay T. Aubin, his mother, Nancy Chamberlain and one of her best friends, Rita Fortin, chose this stone from Rita’s garden in Benton, Maine. Nancy and Rita have an extraordinary friendship that has spanned over 65 years.
Watch this video to learn why this stone is significant and what it says about Maj Jay T. Aubin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsA2JtC2UKI&feature=youtu.be&rel=0
51 Comments
Jay was a wonderful friend even in school. He was kind and thoughtful and will never be forgotten. Peace and love to his family.
I had the honor of carrying Jay’s Memorial Stone on the Spring Ride for the Troops. I am a USAF veteran and member of Patriot Riders of America, Maine Chapter One. I picked it up from the MEPS building on Friday and brought it home. He spent the evening in the kitchen with my wife and I. I truly enjoyed the video made by his Mom. It was so wonderful to hear about what a kind,,thoughtful and generous person Jay was. It was a truly moving experience. On the day of the ride we left our home in Arundel,, drove down to York and joined the crowd of several hundred bikes, After a few hours of riding in less than wonderful weather.we ended the ride at Bentleys in Arundel. First Lady Ann Lepage did the ride with us and honored us with group photo with Jay’s and a dozen other Memorial stones. Thank you for allowing us to have this wonderful experience and learn so much about a real Maine hero.
I served 4 years Air Force and 20 years Air National Guard. I felt so honored to transport Jays memorial stone from Portland to Mt Katahdin. I read everything I could about Jay. It is clear to me that he was quite a man and an exemplarily soldier. I believe that the Summit Project will indeed keep the memories of Jay and the other Maine fallen soldiers alive.
Wayne Godfrey — HIker at TSP at BSP 2014 wrote —
When I first heard about The Summit Project from the local evening news, I knew that I had to be involved in some way. How happy I was when I was notified that I would be a hiker carrying one of the memorial stones! While waiting for Memorial Day to arrive, my wife and I did our research into the project and even attended the grand opening of the Honor Room at MEPS in Portland. This is something that must be seen to be understood – when you see all those stones sitting safely in their respective cubbies, it hits you that each one represents a human being who gave their life for this great country and to keep us free.
I was notified by Major Dave that my stone assignment had been made and that I would be carrying the stone of USMC Major Jay T. Aubin, who was lost in a helicopter crash in Kuwait in 2003. Since I too was a Marine (and one who had also served in Kuwait during Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the early 90’s), it was a special honor for me to carry this particular stone.
We contacted Jay’s mother, Nancy Chamberlain, and went to visit her since she was recovering from foot surgery and couldn’t get around. Watching Nancy relive life with her son, while sharing his story, was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Since she wouldn’t be able to attend the event in Millinocket, she instead presented us with a special flag for me to carry along on the hike. This flag had been carried through the white house by a class of students from Skowhegan who then presented it to her. She wanted me to have a piece of Jay to keep with me after returning the stone and it now holds a place of honor in our home.
We are currently shopping for the perfect album and plan to print photos from the event, put them in the album and present it to Ms. Chamberlain once it’s ready. These photos will serve as a constant reminder for my wife and I of the wonder of the Summit Project and of the life of one special Marine who we were not able to meet in person, but whom we now feel that we know very well.
The weekend of the actual event was like no other – being surrounded by so many volunteers, hikers, bikers and family members was an amazing experience and I hope to stay in touch with as many as possible. We all worked together to make this project the success that it was and I look forward to following the project and participating in future events as well.
Respectfully Submitted;
Gunnery Sergeant Wayne E. Godfrey, USMC Retired
It was an honor to carry Jay’s stone up Cadillac Mountain on that miserable, cloudy day. It was a somber day – it made you reflect on the loss that the families had. But that thought is in my mind and felt every day. I see the flag that Jay’s mother presented to me in May – it sits in a place of honor in our living room and every time it catches my eye, I think of him.
I’d like to thank Major Dave for putting this together. Without him, the fallen wouldn’t have been honored by such a large group. Without the Summit Project, the citizens of Maine might never have heard the name of Jay T. Aubin.
I’d like to thank the other hikers who shared this experience and who will carry the memories with them forever. They hiked for many different reasons and came from many different places but they all found they had things in common with all the other hikers – the desire to reach the top and to do it in honor of someone they may have never met.
I’d like to thank the volunteers who made the event what it was – for the folks who took the time to direct traffic, to set up tents, to serve coffee and just to be on hand to do “whatever” whenever it was needed.
And finally, I’d like to thank the families who lost loved ones and who are willing to share that loss and the memories of their beloved with us. so many losses are new and raw and hard to even talk about for many of them. Events such as this let them see that, although we can’t feel the way they do, we can still help to keep their lost one alive in their hearts.
All of us were strangers once, but we’re strangers no more. As we meet at these events, we have built bonds between us – the hikers, the volunteers, the families – that time will not be able to shake. Dave created the opportunity for these bonds to form but it was so much more than any of us expected when we first became involved in this project.
And so, as this year comes to an end, we are all of us looking forward to bigger and better opportunities next year. We hope to see you all then!
Wayne Godfrey
Dear family of Jay Aubin,
I recently partcipated in the summit project and carried the stone of Jay Aubin. It was a hard project for me. I have many family members who have and still do serve is some area of the military. It was hard for me to think that one of the stones we carried could have been one of my family members. During the walk I tried to think of what the meaning of the project was. As I carried the stone I tried to image that he was with me and that I was helping his spirt to live on. When I reached the top and looked out at the beautiful view I thought about something. One of the reasons I was able to participate in this project and have this beautiful view, was because he fought for it. Josh and all of the people who are in the military fight so everyone around me could be here and live the way we do. At the top we had our ceremony and spoke of all the soldiers. As I listened I thought about the sacrafice they’ve made. I also thought about how they do this and ask nothing in return. It must take a great amount of courage to do this. I was very happy to participate in this project. It made me really think about what they have done and the reason I was able to partcipated in it. In history class we have learned about war. When we looked at the war we saw the statistics of deaths and the large numbers. However doing this project made us think more deeply about those people and think of the sacrafice they made instead of just being a statistic.
Sincerly,
Zach Danse
Dear loved ones of Jay Aubin,
Before the summit project, our history class hadn’t focused on the individuals during the war, we focused on who won and who it was between. I got the opportunely to learn about Jay and his struggles along with his achievements. I got the opportunity to carry Jay’s stone up Bradbury mountain. When we first had to find our stone, I was nervous how to react to holding someones memories, name, achievements, reputations and who he was. While walking up the mountain I thought about the things I wanted to say at the top. When we climbed, we had to go in snow, that’s only a small part of weather that Jay had to go through. At the top, their was a flag that said “The Summit Project” we had to put the rock on the flag and say something about the stone we brought up with us.
When I spoke about jay, I expressed that I couldn’t believe that Jay passed away so soon. After all, he was only thirty-six years old and had his whole life ahead of him. Unfortunately, war takes the best of us. I explained also that — and this is the frustrating part — he wasn’t suppose to be working on the aircraft in the Marines when the plane crashed. He was originally out of the service for the moments being and trying to get educated. He missed the Marines so when they gave him the opportunity to return, he took it.
After we hiked down I was thinking about the things I could write to represent how our group felt about the hike. After the hike, we got on our bus and I sat there thinking about how Jay had felt. I know a lot more than I did before the hike, carrying the stone up the hill felt like his spirits were still with us.
Sincerely, Katie Torres
To the family of Jay Aubin,
I am a student from Edward Little High School. My group that consisted of two others, were honored in carrying Jay’s stone. I’ve learned a lot about him and his sacrifices. I would like to share with the family, and everyone else reading this my experience from before the summit project, to during, and after. Because it was a opportunity that I will remember.
Before the summit project my history class had been learning about the war. When history classes introduce the topic war, it’s often the teaching of why the war happened, who won, and what could have been done to make the situation better. It’s very rare that a history class focuses on the individuals who had fought for the citizens in this country. In my history class we had been told the numbers of lost lives for each war. Which brings me to the event that has affected my life.
When the summit project was brought to Edward Little, I was excited to learn something new in history class. I had been told the name of the fallen soldier I was assigned to. Watching the video on this page taught me a lot about Jay. Learning about how courageous, and kind he was made me feel honored to bring his stone in remembrance to the top of the mountain. As every soldier has had great achievements and is honored in their own way, I feel Jays story was extraordinary. He was brave and kind enough to go back into the marines after college. I can not imagine the pain his family had felt when his loss first occurred, and the pain that is still felt. I not only thought about Jay, but his family and friends too as I reached the top of the mountain, because I can not thank the loved ones enough for the great sacrifice that was made.
After the summit project it made me think of all those numbers in my history class that had represented those fallen soldiers. I realized that those numbers weren’t good enough. Nothing would ever be good enough to represent the bravery that Jay had, or the pain that his loved ones had felt. But I definitely feel that carrying the stone with his name on it was a huge privilege. I want to thank Jay for representing this country and putting everything on the line. I want to thank his family for letting Jays remembrance involved in the summit project, to teach history classes like mine that sacrifices and fallen soldiers are way more than just numbers.
Sincerely, Alannah Dubois
On March 20, 2015, Donny Rafford wrote –
Two weeks ago today, I woke up with a spring in my step and pride in my heart. It was on this day, March 6th, that I was to join a few friends and many perfect strangers in a March across Portland to honor the men and women of the state of Maine who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedoms for future generations. This honor was granted to me by The Summit Project, and for this, I will be forever grateful.
When asked to participate in this event, I raised my hand without hesitation. To be given the chance to honor such wonderful people would be absurd to pass up. I asked to represent Marine Corps Major Jay Aubin. Unfortunately, I never had the honor to meet the man, but I knew of him and heard many stories for years, both before and after he became one of our fallen heroes. I will say that I did have the pleasure to visit his final resting place in San Diego, CA at the National Cemetery, overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean where he rests in the company of many heroes, much like him. Those willing to do what it takes, to put their lives on the line, so that we may sleep at night and not fear the heavy hand of foreign enemies on our streets.
On the walk around Portland that Friday two weeks ago, it was a frigid, windy March day, as many are in Maine. However, until reflecting after the March, I didn’t realize that I kept picturing standing there on that side of the hill under the shade of a mighty oak, standing in front of the final resting place of the very man whose memories I was carrying around Portland. It was in that memory that kept the chill out of the air.
As we walked around the streets, I kept picturing Jay’s face, thinking about the life he lead and the life he may have had. That time made me remember that we need to continue to live our lives in celebration of their sacrifices. Men like Jay grew to be are not born. They are forged from the fire and created over their lives. I am reminded of a quote by Steven Moffat, “Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame. Whatever the cost.” Jay was one of those men forged in fire. Now continuing his memory and carrying on his spirit, we can continue to light the flame. And as long as we have those memories, in the comfort of remembering and sharing them, it sure is warm! Cheers!
Donny
To all who have walked with Jay Aubin and the other military , May God bless all of you. Thank you . Your goodness and thoughtful gift warms the heart of a family who is forever grateful.
My name is David J. Cote, nickname “Sandman” and on May 23, 2015 I carried the stories and memorial stones of two post 9/11 fallen Maine heroes to the top of Owl Peak on Baxter State Park as part of The Summit Project.
The Summit Project is a nationally recognized, Maine based, non-profit service organization that I founded exactly two years ago. In two years, and with thousands of miles hiked, hundreds of volunteers and dozens of fallen honored, we have fundamentally changed the way our state pays tribute to our post 9/11 fallen service members. With every hike, every new relationship, and every post hike reflection letter (like the one here) we have shown that TSP inspires service, strengthens communities and changes lives.
There is no doubt that I felt inspired, our communities are strengthened and my life was changed on May 23rd as I learned about two of Maine’s bravest heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the defense and protection of our great country. I had the deepest honor and personal privilege to honor, remember and carry:
SFC Shawn Dostie, age 32, of Granite City, Ill.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.; who was killed Dec. 30, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during patrol operations in Baghdad.
Maj Jay T. “Sweet Pea Aubin”, age 36, of Waterville, Maine; assigned to the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.; killed on March 20, 2003 in a CH-46E helicopter crash in Kuwait.
For long time veterans of TSP, we know that the hours and weeks that we spend rehearsing and preparing our presentation for the summit ceremony is essential prep work, but when we get to the top, our plan goes out the window and our words are spoken from the heart and NOT from a prepared note card. I spent weeks learning about Shawn and Jay. They were heroes, brave, courageous and patriotic. They were warriors, selfless and giving. These individuals demonstrated the very best in what is important in America and they both revealed the character of what it means to be a Mainer. But the other thing we learn from TSP, is sometimes the stones choose us, rather than us choosing the stones.
I think this was the case for my hike on Owl this year. A year ago, my TSP experience was very different. It was our first year of TSP at BSP and I was enamored with the details of planning and executing a complex operation like TSP. It was year one, and I was stressed about every detail. I am glad I carried the memory of James Zimmerman that year. I continue to think of him and how his example helps me lead TSP.
This year was different. In only a short time, we have found extraordinary volunteers, a hardworking and dedicated Board of Directors and they have taken on significant pieces of the TSP at BSP mission. I had more time to focus and reflect on the lives represented by the two stones in my pack. I am grateful for this different experience and my team (TEAM BLUE) can tell you that I was impacted in a big way on that mountain top.
I was much more connected to the spirit of the fallen this year. I could process what was happening to others, to the families, to me. I could truly appreciate and understand and synthesize, to a degree, the benefit of TSP because I, like others around me, was the one who gained more by giving than receiving.
As I hiked the mountain and prepared for TSP at BSP 2015, I tried to personalize, exhibit, and embody ONE key quality from each of the heroes I prepared to carry. I wanted to try to combine their signature trait into a unique blend of virtue that was inspiring me to give more as a servant leader to TSP.
From SFC Shawn Dostie, I tried to take on his capacity for HARD WORK. He was a senior enlisted man in the Army. He worked tirelessly not only in uniform but also before ever joining. He stayed busy, he found employment, and he worked long hours, he NEVER complained and was committed to never let someone accuse him of slacking or cutting corners. He was a VERY hard worker. The stories I read about his capacity for hard work inspired me to want to WORK as hard as I COULD on the mission that was important to me – leading TSP.
From Maj Jay Aubin, I tried to take on his ability to BE KIND to others. Jay was a field grade officer in the USMC like me. He was a pilot like me; he was practically from the same birthplace as me in Maine. Jay was one of the KINDEST Marines in his unit. He was considerate, benevolent, deliberate and giving. He would never say anything offensive or hurtful. He helped his Marines get home safely from parties. He greeted his fellow Marines and helped his family. He was a kind, considerate and giving. That quality inspired me too.
Now my post hike reflection would not be complete without sharing the surprise that happened to me at TSP at BSP 2015 a few hundred yards short of the Owl peak. Two of my friends who were on the hike (Skeletor and Lex) knew that my favorite stone was the BAYONET STONE.
The BAYONET stone, unearthed and selected by me, comes from the area near Little Round Top in Gettysburg, PA and represents my childhood and present day historical hero — Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, with whom I share a passion of public service, a birthday and almost a hometown.
Skeletor had carried the Bayonet stone in his pack from the foot of the trail. He found Lex and told him to find me for another hand off. When Lex said to me “Dave – you need to take this to the top” I was so filled with emotion, pride, humility, and inspiration. I just about broke down. Complete surprise, but an honor I will remember forever.
I spoke at length about JLC during the circle testimony at the top of Owl Peak. My emotions got the better of me as I shared with my team that I wanted to exhibit the HARD WORK of Shawn Dostie, the KINDNESS of Jay Aubin and the life accomplishments of JLC – a soldier, scholar and statesman from Maine.
It that sense, that single action of having the opportunity to carry three stones to the summit, I was inspired, I knew we had built and bolstered a community and I knew my life and lives of others were changed for the better.
When we take the time to learn about our heroes (like Dostie, Aubin and Chamberlain), when we take the time to serve one another, we are able to carry on THEIR unfinished work. That special group of people, who call themselves Mainers, can act on that faith, inspired by our fallen, to defend our state, be proud of our state and change our state – for the better.
In full circle fashion, it is our fallen heroes, who were motivated to take action in the face of uncertainty, not based on a deterministic outcome, but based on their faith in a higher purpose. They are the ones who give us faith today and help us believe in ourselves and respond to own higher calling. IT is their courageous acts of service and selflessness that instills faith in us, reminds us what HARD WORK and KINDNESS and PUBLIC SERVICE look like and remind us there is still work for us to do.
I am reminded of this concept every time I run up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in our nation’s Capital. Lincoln said —
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
We must remind ourselves, today, and every day, that the measure of progress for those who served and died is whether WE remain willing to work hard together, regardless of our race, our class, our religion, our gender, our political ideology, to be part of something greater than ourselves and surpass our perceived personal limits and overcome the challenges that we face together.
To win that battle, to answer that call – is what remains our greatest unfinished business. The promise of the Pine Tree state and the principle of our heroes service’ will only be kept if we work together and continue to give to each other, help one another, carry each other and lift one another to higher places. We can and will solve the problems that we all face together. We can and must live a life worthy of their sacrifice. For TSP at BSP 2015, I thank my fallen heroes of SFC Shawn Dostie, Maj Jay Aubin, and COL Joshua Chamberlain and my living heroes (Lex, Skeletor, Gunny and everyone in our incredible TSP family) for showing me how.
MHANF.
Thank you Sandman! MB
On June 12, 2015, Scott Skeletor Stitham wrote: BAYONETS
June 12, 2015
On May 24th, 2015 I carried the spirit stone “BAYONETS” to the top to Owl Peak in Baxter State Park as part of the Memorial Day weekend at Twin Pines with The Summit Project. I was never asked to carry this stone nor was I assigned to it. Infact I took it off the table without prior consent from anyone and put it in my ruck. I chose to bring it along side of the stones of Andrew Hutchins and Aaron Henderson as personal “Thank You” to Major David Cote.
BAYONETS sits out from the other spirit stones and is usually picked last for a hike. When you see the word next to FAMILY, HONOR, SACRIFICE, and all the others it stands alone and seems somewhat out of place. While it waits on the table being passed over for other stones and memories it does keep it’s silent watch on all that TSP has become. This stone was hand picked by David and engraved with a word that he chose.
A little background: I had the privilege of hiking in ANP on Team Bubble with David in October of 2014. I was new to TSP at this point and had only carried one stone at that point in June and had barely met any of the families affected by the tragic loss of their loved ones. It was a hectic morning and Dave was moving us out to the bus to get to the trailheads and in his haste he didn’t grab a stone to hike with. Luckily enough there was a spare in one of our hikers packs: BAYONETS.
His eyes lit up and he gave us an impassioned education that morning on his personal hero General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The fire and passion that Dave had in his eyes while he was speaking to us made an impact on me. What I was seeing was the kind of leader I wanted to be. To be such a strength for so many people involved in TSP and to make the time to listen to each and everyone of them is something I wanted to strive for. To be able to make an impact in so many lives as this.
Since the ANP hike I have taken myself from “selfish” to “selfless”. I took the cues that day while I was silently observing David and his interaction with the Gold Star Family members to make better decisions for myself and for my community. I have found new family in the Hutchins and made many new friends with the same core-values I have since joining TSP.
I have since become friends with Dave and have carried quite a few stones, but more importantly, the memories of our fallen soldiers. As he says, “I’m just a ripple in the pond”. David, you are so much more than that and that is why I chose to bring BAYONETS up with us. I chose to honor my friend that afternoon and all the hikers got to spend a little time hearing about your hero. We passed it down from Team Red to White to David’s Team Blue so he could receive it and take it to the top, too.
David, The Summit Project wouldn’t exist without you. The families that are near and dear to all of us now wouldn’t have that link to the love and healing that you created. You are a good man and I’m honored to call you my friend. So, to anyone who sees BAYONETS sitting on the table at future events please pick it last. That is the way Dave would want it to be as the project is not about him, but at least pick it up and give it a quiet “Thank You”.
Thank you for what you have created.
Your friend,
~Skeletor
On August 5, I carried Jay’s memorial stone up Mt. Abraham in Kingfield, Maine. I chose Jay to honor because I grew up in Sidney, Maine, just a few miles from Waterville.
It was just me and my husband on the hike. I drove to Portland the day before to pick up his stone and brought it back to my parents’ home, where I was staying for the week with my family for vacation. My family remembered when Jay died and they were honored to have his stone in their house for the few days I had it. My dad is a veteran of the Korean War and was pleased to hear about Jay’s service and life.
I decided to carry Jay’s stone in my hands the entire 9 miles. The weather was amazing when we started but as we got above treeline, approaching the summit, the rain came, as well as hail and thunder. I think Jay was giving us the extra challenge as we finished the hike up! 🙂 We embraced it and it added to the feeling of lovingly carrying the weight of the family’s grief and love for Jay.
From what I have read about Jay, he was an amazingly giving, generous man. I feel so lucky to have carried his stone that entire day. I had some solid quiet time to reflect on him and the sacrifices he made as well as his family who are missing him every hour of every day.
I send my love to the Jay’s family and feel so honored to have been a part of The Summit Project’s mission of remembering the fallen soldiers of Maine.
Thank you, David Cote, for your vision and love for the soldiers.
Jane
Once again, TSP has brought me out to see this beautiful state! On this particular day, I was part of a team of hikers known as Team Bubble. We were one of the teams assigned to hike Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park via the Bubble trail for TSP at ANP 2015.
Earlier in the week, I had been chatting with Nancy Chamberlain, the mother of my hero for the hike, United States Marine Corps Major Jay Aubin. We exchanged pleasantries and talked a little about the upcoming event. I gathered some more information about Jay and his mother learned a little more about me. It was this conversation, as small and probably insignificant as it may have been to her, which boosted my enthusiasm to be participating in another TSP event.
The day started with an early rise and the anticipation of climbing to the summit of the locally iconic Cadillac Mountain. I laced up my boots, grabbed my pack and headed for the base camp. As I pulled into the parking lot, I was greeted by a familiar face with a giant smile and a very warm welcome. Right then, I already knew this would be a special day! I made my way over to the base camp and milled around chatting with some familiar faces and took some time to learn some new ones. It was here at the base camp that I was able to watch the gorgeous fall sunrise over the bay. The clouds that were forecasted to tower over us all day were not yet formed, the breeze was light and the bite in the air was mild for an October morning in Maine. The tranquility of the ever growing blaze of the rising sun cascading about the bay and shedding light on the rising tide and all that the beautiful Maine coast has to offer was truly a breathtaking site! Maybe this was our fallen Heroes coming to us to welcome us in the new day.
Alas, the time came where we loaded the buses to depart for our assigned trails and begin the trek up the mountain carrying the honor stones and memories of those Heroes that have been lost from Maine.
After a quick photo op and group discussion, we were off. We departed the parking lot into the canopied trail of Acadia National Park. As we began to cross the parking lot, the sky opened up and the rains that were forecasted to last all throughout the day began to coldly fall upon us. You would think that this would dampen the spirit of the day…however, when you get a group of wonderful individuals collectively gathered together like this, it merely strengthened our resolve as we recognized perhaps it was the sorrow of the heavens, welcoming us closer as we climb from the level of the sea to the summit of the mountain.
The hike up the mountain was nothing less than spectacular. From the crisp Maine air, the beautiful fall foliage, the wonderful company we shared, and the breath taking views, to the moments of self- reflection. You cannot help at times to wonder what a conversation with your hero at a specific moment would be like. I would find myself having a conversation as I saw that it would unfold, however brief, and I am not unconvinced that maybe Jay had a little to do with that.
When we reached the summit of Cadillac Mountain, everyone went about their own agenda chatting with others, congratulating the other teams who had made the trip ahead of us, some silently taking it all in, and some just kicking back and relaxing in the moment.
When I walked over to a large rock, I climbed upon it and had a seat. I had the honor stone of Jay in my hands as I looked out upon the base of the mountain and out to the expanse of the frigid Atlantic Ocean. I then set the stone beside me and lay back like I was just hanging out on top of a mountain with Jay sitting beside me. It was in that moment that I realized a point of significance and a wave of emotions came over me.
In the spring of 2006, I was able to go out to San Diego, CA to visit one of my best friends, who happens to be Jay’s Godson. He took me to the National Cemetery where I had the honor to see Jay’s final resting place. His view is spectacular. Jay lies on the side of down sloping terrain shaded by a large Oak tree and overlooking the Bay into the Pacific Ocean. It was so wonderful to have had that moment there, to be with my friend, to pay my respects to one of this Nation’s heroes, and to share in the memory of such a beautiful soul.
Now here I am, atop Cadillac Mountain on a beautiful Maine Fall October day, sunshine upon me and the brisk ocean breeze diluting out everything but my thoughts. I am here overlooking the Atlantic and sharing the moment with the memory of Jay, lying beside his honor stone. Moments like this don’t come about every day and it is through the TSP that I was able to experience it, share it with others, and that I will be able to remember it for a lifetime! Because of moments like this, MHANF!!
-Donny
To Major Jay Aubin’s family – Nancy, Tom, Rhonda, Alicia, Nathan and Jay’s brothers – I thank you for the privilege of letting me carry Jay’s hero stone on a journey, including the Marine Corps Marathon. I kept his stone and reputation close by me from the time that I picked him up at MEPS on Thursday afternoon, until I returned his stone to MEPS for safekeeping almost five days later. Saturday (the day before the marathon), we traveled by Metro or on foot, around Washington, DC on Saturday from the marathon Expo to the World War II Memorial. We also went to both the Pentagon Memorial and Arlington Cemetery to visit the markers of four other heroes that are honored by The Summit Project.
I ran as part of a three man team representing The Summit Project. My teammates Dave Coté and Danny Stokes (nicknamed Sandman and Ghost, respectively). Our mission for the day was to share the story of TSP and each of the heroes we carried through the marathon. As a team, we stopped at each mile marker so that one of us could share a bit about each hero’s story with a spectator. During the run, I got to share a bit of Jay’s story with MANY people, including several Marines, some EMTs, a Boy Scout troop, and two brand new 2nd LT Marines at the finish line. You should know that the people who heard Jay’s name and story all got to hold his stone for a few moments to share the weight. Both of the 2nd LTs that I spoke with at the finish line saluted us (But I believe that it was really meant just for Jay).
I did my best to run and represent his character of being willing to work harder to meet the team’s objective. I tried to keep a smile on my face and represent his friendly spirit to everyone who saw us running. I gave my best to my teammates to help keep us all moving along the course that day so that we could share the memory of Jay, Mark and Sam with the people who we picked out to learn about them. I hope that through my efforts that weekend, and by sharing Jay’s story, you feel that more Americans know, appreciate and value his service, and his sacrifice.
Going forward, as I remember Jay’s work ethic and his role as a night flight instructor, I resolve to work harder at being a better protector and mentor to my teams at work. In my job, I find myself mentoring people in situations where they have little to no experience (which may seem like flying at night to them). I will recall Jay’s life and emulate his friendly, protective spirit forward as my teams learn to conquer the technical problems and unknowns that come our way.
With deepest respect – Russ Shoberg (Sensei)
I was deeply honored to carry Major Jay T. Aubin’s stone to the top of Bradbury mountain. Jay was taken from us in a helicopter crash in Kuwait. While carrying the rock I could only imagine how brave of man he was. Major Jay is the true definition of a hero who has put his life on the line to save the men and women in this country. It takes a huge amount of honor and dedication to become a soldier and to protect the ones who they love. Spending holidays such as Christmas and thanksgiving overseas and not sharing that time with his families; is a sacrifice that others won’t ever make, but soldiers like Major Jay have. Like some soldier, Jay has spent a long period of time over seas. Major Jay was like any ordinary guy who loved spending time with his loved ones and caring for his family and friends. There’s not a lot of people who think of becoming a soldier, but for those individuals who do we thank them from the bottom of our hearts.
He was also a hero beyond the Marine. Jay was a selfless man for a long time. While he was in community college, he came up with the idea of creating an award ceremony for teachers and faculty members of his school that deserved it. This example and many others show how his selfless acts really spoke for him. Whether you’re Marine or in school, Major Jay teaches us that actions speak louder than words. If we carry these characteristics of selflessness and compassion for others, the consequences will only result in good. When I was on top of that mountain with his rock, I hope I did him a little justice. I hope his kindness will have a domino effect. He will forever be missed and remember as an American hero.
Sincerely, Ahmed Mohamed
Dear family of Jay Aubin,
I have recently participated in an event to honor those who have served in the military. I was honored to be given your son Jay Aubin. The project was difficult, because I have a member of my family that has served in air force and I am grateful to have him. But what those men and woman are doing for our country, I am very grateful. I would love to say thank you to Major Jay Aubin and the other men and woman who have passed away for this country, for protecting this country and believing in it. I know I did not really know him, but from what I heard and saw, your son sounds like a really great guy that cared about family and friends a lot. Your son means a lot to me and this country because with out men like your son, we would not be free as we are now.
My experience with project was awesome, because just walking up mountain with a remembrance of very passionate and loving solider made me think about the war across seas and all those men and woman fighting for what they love.
The experience made me think those men and woman that are fighting are not just people those are heroes. Heroes that protect and fight for what they love, that is what exactly what Major Jay Aubin is.
Thank you
I had the honor to carry Marine Major Jay T. Aubin’s stone up Bradbury Mountain with my peers and because of this experience, me and a lot of other people had the chance to find out more about Jay and what a great guy he was. He was really nice to everyone and really brace. It’s just sad to see some people go at a young age, but he died with pride. He was serving not to just protect himself, but everyone else. While I was hiking up the mountain it gave me time to think about everything that the soldiers who go othere and fight for us and sacrifice day in and day out. There isn’t any guarantee for them that they will come out alive yet they still fight which is something I couldn’t do so I just want to thank everyone for having that much courage. I want to thank Jay T. Aubin for serving and protecting us. Thank you sweet pea and we will always remember that smile that you always wore proudly.
Reflection from David Smith from 4/16/16 – I carried the stone for Major Jay T. Aubin at the memorial parade in Newport. As I drove up that morning my thoughts about Jay were many. I even listened to some Christian music! I am very moved and proud to have carried a fellow marines stone. I am planning a summit with Jays stone with my family this summer. Semper Fidelis. Thank you Patriot bikers for all you do.
Reflection from David Smith 4/16/16 – carried the stone for Major Jay T. Aubin at the memorial parade in Newport. As I drove up that morning my thoughts about Jay were many. I even listened to some Christian music! I am very moved and proud to have carried a fellow marines stone. I am planning a summit with Jays stone with my family this summer. Semper Fidelis. Thank you Patriot bikers for all you do.
My name is Ray Bickford I’m a Patriot Rider with chapter 2. I had the Honor to carry Jay’s stone with me 5/29/16 to Millinocket. Frist I like say I’m sorry for your loss and I give thanks to Jay service to our country and a Marine in witch I was a son of a Marine of a WW2 Vet. I felt great accomplishment as I passed his stone onto the young lady at Twin Pines.
I’ve done all these rides from the beginning and each time I got to know how great each and everyone of them are. And I will not forget Major Jay T. Aubin
Over Memorial Day Weekend, I had the honor and privilege of carrying the stone and memories of Major Jay Aubin for the Summit Project at Baxter State Park. On the morning of the hike, I rose from bed with little sleep but a pep in my step. Knowing what I was in for, coupled with the anticipation I had of the event, my attitude rivaled the morning of any holiday. I was quick to lace up my boots, grab my pack and make my way to the cabin to meet my team members.
The mood was light and playful as we all worked through the early morning wakeup and got ready to head out the door for Katahdin Stream Campground where we would begin our hike. The van ride was filled with quiet conversation, reflection, and the smell of leftover white water rafters.
Upon our arrival at the trail head, we did last minute gear checks and began our journey to the top of Owl Mountain.
The air was damp and windy with a bit of a chill, but we soon warmed up as we began working to climb the mountain. The weather was fitting and added an ambiance for the sense of loss we feel for all these heroes we were there to honor. However, as the day progressed and we climber further toward the summit, the weather seemed to disappear even though it was beginning to rain heavily.
As we continued our climb, I thought of all those we were here to honor and reflected on the life of Jay that has been shared with me by his family and friends. It amazes me the warm and passionate manner in which they tell the stories about Jay and how you can see their eyes light up and hear it in their voices as they relive their memories.
Once we reached the summit and had shared our stories and carried the memories to the peak, there were moments of quiet reflection, celebration, and more sharing. I thought of the many stories that have been shared with me and the resounding repetition of the qualities of Humility and Kindness that Jay displayed. On the way to the TSP event, a Tim McGraw song came on three times, and I finally caught the lyrics at the end of the song and could only attribute that to the memories of Jay I was carrying with me. “Don’t take for granted the love this life gives you. When you get where you’re goin, Don’t forget turn back around And help the next one in line. Always stay humble and kind.”
It was so windy that day, and so cloudy. It was as if we had ascended into the clouds and were sharing the heavens with these heroes. As I stood on the ledge, facing into the ripping winds, I couldn’t help but think about being in an aircraft in a hover close to the mountain and just loving every minute of it! I could see it so vividly…I guess Jay wanted to fly today and let me be his copilot and I thank him for letting me come along for the ride!
V/R,
Donny Rafford
To the family and friends of Jay,
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.
“Today we carried the stone up Table Rock mountain. It was nice to learn his and your story. Even though it was a long climb we pushed through it just for him. It was a great experience to carry his rock up the mountain and I hope that we can do it again!
Love,
Madi and Mary-Kate
To the family and friends of Jay,
Today Angel Matson and I hiked up Table Rock Mountain in Maine with 30 children who all have a parent or sibling currently serving in the military. They carried 24 stones up the mountain today. Here is a letter from the campers that had the honor of carrying your hero.
“I had a good experience carrying his stone up the mountain. I am glad I could do this for Aubin. I hope that we will be able to do this again next year.”
“Today I hiked with Aubin’s stone. I got to learn about what he did and who he was. He is courageous and helpful and I hope to be that kind of person. Thank you.
Love, Tim”
Nancy and family, I was honored to carry the Major’s memory stone on August 20, 2016 during the Maine Fallen Heroes Foundation 10k race at the former Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Maine. It was a very emotional day for all involved. The first 5k of the course had tributes to each of Maine’s Fallen Hero’s. Many of the families of were stationed at their Fallen Warriors tribute sites which gave us running a chance to stop and individually thank the family for their tremendous sacrifice to this country. In order to carry the Major’s memory stone with honor I build a desert camouflage pouch and “slung the load” (CH-46 term). Although I was never assigned to duty with the Major a close personal friend that I worked with at the Navy Survival school (SERE) did have a direct connection with the Major’s family. In closing I wish to say a very humble thank you Major Aubin and family for your sacrifice to this country.
It was my honor to carry the stone of SGT. Christopher Wilson for team TARN. I was able to learn about Christopher in the weeks building up to the hike through his TSP bio as well as various articles I was able to find online. While I did not speak to Christopher’s family it is something that I look forward to. As hiked and shared thoughts on our soldiers I began to reflect on Christopher’s presence with us as well as his similarities to my own fallen brother Sgt. Joel House. They were both KIA in 2007 and both had a light that they shared with everyone they met. Christopher loved the Lord as did Joel and I could not help but know that they are together in heaven watching down as remembered them. Although I have no met them I embrace Christopher’s family in my heart and share in their pain as well as their wonderful memories of their fallen soldier.
This hike turned out to be more special than I could have imagined. My 5 year old son Joel had come along and to the campground and my wife and I had expected that he would stay with her while I hiked and we would regroup at the end of the day. When the alarm went off on Saturday morning Joel was more than adamant that he would be joining us on the hike that day. As “Luck” would have it, there was a last minute no show on our team and we were able to add “little Joel” to the hiking roster.
This of course meant that there was another stone that needed to be remembered and Joel and I received the stone of Major Jay Aubin to also carry on the hike. I had not had time to learn a lot about Jay due to such short notice. I had heard memories shared of Jay at previous TSP hikes and already knew that he had left behind a loving family with children. Jay was 36 when he was killed in 2003 which is also my age at the time of this hike. 13 years ago and I know it feels like yesterday for his family. As I walked I thought of Jay’s family and how they miss him as they reach new milestones in their lives. I know that his memory and spirit lives within in his family and they will forever have him in their hearts to help them navigate the passages of this life.
The conversations and sharing that take place include conversations that will be remembered for a lifetime and some that will never be shared again. As a dad I could not have been more proud to watch Joel hiking at the front of the pack and feel the sense of family as the other hikers helped him the occasional times that his little legs just weren’t long enough to climb. I am proud that Joel is able to learn of our fallen heroes at such an early age and I know that this will have a positive impact for him as he grows to be a man.
Luke House
Gold Star Brother of SGT Joel House
Dear friends and family of Jay Aubin,
My name is Samantha Allen and I had the honor of learning about Major Jay Aubin and a fraction of his story as a Marine, son, father, husband, and leader. Having spent time in Waterville for my undergraduate degree at Colby, I felt an immediate connection to him and the strength of his community. Now that my career has brought me to the University of Southern Maine, a place where Major Aubin spent time before re-enlisting, our paths have crossed again.
On Friday, March 24, 2017, members of the University of Southern Maine community gathered at the President’s House in Gorham to honor Maine’s fallen heroes. Although the second annual Summit Project Ruck, a 10-mile hike from USM’s Portland campus to the Gorham campus, was cancelled due to inclement weather, a group of us gathered for a luncheon in Gorham. We shared the stories of the fallen, gained greater knowledge of The Summit Project, and learned that the hike would be rescheduled for September 11, 2017
The afternoon was filled with love, light-hearted conversation, a special tribute to Jay and many other Mainers. As our luncheon came to a close, I decided that I would take Jay for a short hike in Portland on the morning of March 26, 2017.
The glow of sunrise peaked over the horizon that day to display stunning tones of oranges and reds across Casco Bay. As we made our way around the Eastern Promenade to Fort Allen Park, the warmth of the sun acted as a salute to Jay’s compassion, selflessness, and generosity. We reached our summit and reflected upon this simple truth: we are able to enjoy a pleasure such as this because we have heroes who pay the ultimate price for our freedom. Having the opportunity to embrace a loved one, pay a bill, take the dog for a walk, listen to Bruce Springsteen, read a favorite book, argue with a coworker, or teach someone to play basketball are privileges. Both the perceived good and bad parts of our daily lives are extraordinary gifts that not everyone as the ability to appreciate.
Gratitude washed over all of us as we remembered Jay and what he has given. Thank you for allowing us the time with his memory, and may he continue to embrace all of you each day.
Respectfully,
Samantha
To the family of Major Jay T. Aubin,
on Saturday, April 15, 2017 I had the honor and privilege to carry Jay’s memorial stone over the course of 27 miles in the Boston Marathon Tough Ruck, which was held at Minuteman National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts. Along with other members of Team RWB, an organization aimed to bring together civilians and veterans through social activities and physical fitness, I traversed the “Battle Road Trail” between Lexington and Concord, a monument to the colonial war, taking in the historical sights and re-enactments happening at the same time as we were rucking. As I was walking the same path the colonial soldiers had walked, I kept thinking of Jay’s stone, traveling right alongside me in my backpack. I remembered the ultimate sacrifice he, and his family, had made to ensure that the freedom, which was hard earned in the colonial war, is still upheld to this day! It is men and women like Jay, who ensure that our freedom, the basic foundation of our great nation, will endure for generations to come! As the miles wore on, and my feet got tired, I held Jay’s spirit in my heart and I finished the ruck knowing that Jay and all of Maine’s heroes will never be forgotten. Thank you for allowing me to honor Jay by carrying his stone and story!
Kindest regards,
Baerbel LoSacco
To the family of Major Jay T Aubin
I had the honor of carrying Jay’s stone on Friday May 12 2017. As part of my sons high school JROTC hike on Little Bigelow Mountain. The hike was around 6 miles round trip. Listening to the kids talking about the different solders they had researched, made me think about Jay and what he gave up to keep us all safe. The stories i read from his friends and the men he worked with and even from his daughter. He left them to protect us all, witch i can only imagine how hard that alone had to be. Thank you does not even start to say enough for your sacrifice. Standing atop the summit looking out across the valley and across to sugar loaf ski resort there was a feeling that we were among those heroes that sacrificed so much for us. We are for ever in your dept.
with heart felt thanks
Andrew Harding
TSP at BSP 2017
On May 28th, 2017 – during our signature weekend at Baxter State Park – I had the distinct privilege of carrying the stone and story of Marine Corps Major Jay T. Aubin up Abol Trail to the summit of Katahdin. There is always an abundance of emotion while both preparing for these climbs and embarking upon the climbs themselves. This one, however, was different. I will attest more than anyone that no matter how much we prepare ourselves both mentally and physically for such an excursion, there is nothing that we can truly do to ready ourselves for all that lies ahead. My journey this time did not begin at the base of Katahdin looking towards the summit, or even at the beautiful Twin Pines Campground just outside of Baxter’s gate. Instead, my journey began while sitting around a table of friends and coworkers at Pratt & Whitney while talking with each of them about the weekend that lay in front of me.
Major Aubin was a helo pilot “who could fly anything” that he was ever requested to – from fighter jets to Harriers to Cobras to troop carriers and everything in between. Ironic that I work for an organization that builds the very jet engines which powered many of the aircrafts he often flew. As I sat around the table with various levels of leadership within the company, a friend and fellow Marine to my right began telling us about the moment he found out his friend “Sweet Pea” had passed away. In that moment, I stopped. Sweet Pea was the nickname given to Jay by his friends and even became his call sign as a pilot. I looked at my friend and asked how he knew Jay, to which his response was that they had been best friends for many years leading up to his passing. I had worked with this gentleman for the past year and never did I ever know of his connection to Jay. In that moment I told him that Jay was the hero I was honoring during this coming weekend and carrying with me to the top of Katahdin.
A few days later, we sat in his office and I was able to hear story after story about Jay and his family and how crazy and fun he was to be around. I heard about his mother, Nancy Chamberlain, who I was very familiar with when this program first began but had never had the opportunity to speak with personally. I listened to stories about his two children, Nate and Alicia, and how he attended the University of Southern Maine – as did I – between his two terms serving as an enlisted Marine then as a Marine officer. While it was often very emotional and difficult to do, I am very grateful for this moment spent learning and listening to all that Major Aubin did and all who he was.
When the weekend came, I was very fortunate to be surrounded and supported by the most amazing team I have ever had the opportunity to climb with – all of whom I also have the great privilege of being able to call my closest friends. The climb itself was no easy task. The trail, however, was beautiful. While standing at the summit, I was honored that Major Aubin was able to accompany me on the first ever summit of Katahdin after trying so hard to do so for the previous three years. I thought to myself as I stood there, upon the highest peak in Maine, that this was as close as I would ever be able to get this Marine pilot back to the sky that he loved.
I want to thank everyone who supported this journey from beginning to end. I would like to thank Nancy for allowing me the opportunity to carry forth the legacy left behind by her son. I would like to thank Scott for sharing with me all that he knew and loved about his closest friend. This journey was by far one of the most emotional, meaningful treks I have had the opportunity to embark upon thus far. I am both very proud and tremendously honored that I was able to do so with Jay by my side.
Semper Fi, my friend. We love you, and we will continue to carry forth your story forever.
To the family of Major Aubin,
It was an honor and privilege to carry this stone. Major Aubin was a Marine Corp Major and I retired from the Marines Corp. I had the pleasure of having this stone be the first stone I ever carried. It is a privilege to know his mother. Stones tell a story of a family member that was lost.
WE Godfrey, Gunny, USMC Retired
Dear Maj Aubin,
It was great to hang out with you this past weekend. Your playful but concerned spirit helped may of us complete the task at hand on Sunday. That task being the hike at BSP. Sir I couldn’t have asked for a better group to go out with. I was a part of a 12 person team call “Team Red”. These people that I have never meet before, already knew and understood the meaning of “Semper Fi”. A group of friends that I will never forget. I also got to meet a family friend of yours that has carried your stone and story on his motorcycle for that last five years at this same event. His name is Paul Lizotte. I also got to talk to one of your best friends, his name is Scott Theriault, man does he have some stories, but we will keep those to ourselves.
Your style of making sure everyone had a smile on the face helped around the camp fire to. You dully earned your call sign of “Sweet Pea” again. I know that you really wanted to fly fixed wing aircraft, but I’m glad that you flew the CH-46 Helicopter, as that is where I got to meet and serve with you.
It was truly an honor to serve with you. It had to be a tuff call to sever 4 years as enlisted, than get out go to college for 4 years to that go back into the Marine Corps as an officer. Your spirit touched so many in both the military and civilian sector to always be better than you were yesterday. And to “never forget where you came from”.
You have a great view of the San Diego bay in CA that I’m sure that your wife and kids get to share with you as often as they can. I know that it has been 15 years since you moved on to your next chapter, but know Sir that you will never be forgotten.
Your friend and brother in arms
SSgt Scott B. Carson
USMC ret.
Ok now that writing this has made me cry again, I will get to my reflection of the most memorable weekend that I can remember.
Being a retired Marine I said I got this. I told myself that I’ve hiked farther, and I’m sure I’ve had harder hikes. The whole United States Marine, “I am man” as I thump my chest. What my brain forgot to tell my body was that, he dummy your almost 50 and you’re not in shape. But my body came back with, “hey emotions” your about to get rocked. Both were very true. I can’t remember when I have had to push my body to such a point that it wanted to just stop, but I knew that I couldn’t. And nothing will prepare you for the emotional roller coaster that this hike will do to you. You will fell the hike in your legs and back for the next week, but you will never forget the tears, the smiles, the hugs, or the people and Gold star families that meet you when you get back from the hike. I truly had 11 of the best people to hike with. Two of them were Gold star family members themselves. Chris, and aka Mama Bear, you two are true inspirations.
Things that I did learn on the hike were,
1. Your feet will let you know if the hiking boots you bought were good enough, this is a good spot to spend a little money. You will want flip flops for the campfire that night.
2. Peanut butter and honey sandwich is the best snack to take, but someone in the group has to bring cookies. Just makes everyone smile.
3. The gummy bear fruit snakes that Chris brought saved my life and help me get to the summit.
4. Remember a lot of pasta meal ideas. Everyone talked about. “Mack and cheese” or “Lasagna” oh and meatballs.
5. Come into this with an open mind, and remember that this weekend is not about you, or your friends, but those that have paid the price to allow us to do this.
As to everyone else, Thank you for letting me be there. As for the TSP team, all I can say is wow. You have built and put together a group of people that will carry on the tradition of “Never Forgotten” forever. Thank you Dave for starting this.
Where do I sign up for the next one? Hope to see you all there.
To the family of Marine Major Jay Aubin,
On Saturday and Sunday Veterans Day weekend 2018 I had the privilege of carring Major Aubin’s stone to the top of Blue Hill Mountain and participate in the 4 mile Summit Project Race held in Ellsworth the very next morning…Veteran’s Day Morning. I must tell you that I am a 26 year Veteran, a retired Senior Master Sargent from United States Air Force/Maine Air National Guard and have two sons that are currently serving full time in the Maine Air National Guard, both deployed to the Middle East currently, so my words cannot express what a special honor it was for me to carry Major Aubin’s stone on this very special Saturday because of it being the birthday of the United States Marines.
In doing the research on Major Aubin, I found it very humbling yet ironic to read his story. The similarities of his early life mirrored my own. Major Aubin and myself are only a year or so apart in age. The ironic part of his story compared to my own came when I read that he joined the military to seek out opportunities to better himself and that college was a priority but due to the cost he joined the military in hopes to someday go to college. I, too, did the exact same thing. I found that the military definitely presented more opportunities than otherwise may have been presented if I stayed in my home town and it sounded to me that Major Aubin shared that same dedication.
Reading of his career in the Marines as an enlisted member and having aspirations to become an Officer one day not only rings true in my own heart but also is an inspiring story to be told to junior enlisted members of the United States armed forces. Major Aubin’s dedication and drive serve’s as inspirational guidance to many enlisted that have the same desires.
Major Aubin was not only a dedicated Marine and loyal to his country but he was a rare individual in that he cared so much about the people he served with which, for me, reading the stories of his exemplary military career and love for his fellow Marine rang loud and strong within my own heart.
I cannot express what an honor it was for me to be able to learn about Major Aubin and to carry, with so much pride, his stone in such an incredible event. I won’t pretend to understand what it has been like for your family to have lost Major Aubin over 15 years ago but what I do understand is that although Major Aubin’s life had been cut short way to early and that his legacy lives on, not only in all of you but also in the lives of countless Marines that have heard stories about “Sweet Pea”. I am also sure those stories have inspired many, many Marines to be the best they can be. As a retired enlisted Senior Master Sargent I salute with the utmost respect Major Jay Aubin.
My name is Andrea Cutler and I work for a Bangor based non profit that is currently hosting the honor case. I had the extraordinary privelage of learning about Jay and am blown away at his dedication to his country and to his family and friends. I thank you for Jay’s service and I will carry his story with me and I will be sure to carry that on. Thank you again and Happy Valentines Day!
My name is Nolin Prewitt and I had the honor and privilege of carrying Jay T. Aubin’s stone. Jay T. Aubin was a Marine Corps Major and was known to be a nice guy who could make anyone feel important , I did not have the time to learn as much as i wanted to about him, but i felt that he was with me the whole hike. Me and my group never actually made it to the summit, but we came across a rocky lake shore covered in fog. As me and my group started our stories the fog dissipated and that is when I felt as if the souls of all the people who’s stones we carried were there with us. I hope that I was able to do him proud on that hike and i would do it again any day, this hike gave me a sense of pride and appreciation to all of the fallen hero’s of then, now, and the future, them and their family’s have made the ultimate sacrifice that i hope I never have to, and am very thankful for.
My name is Mike Papp and I had the honor to meet and walk with Jay last Friday. I was honored and humbled to accompany his stone to the top of Mount Agamenticus. Prior to the hike I spent time getting to know Jay better. In doing so I was surprised to discover how much we had in common. We were both born in 1966, Married the same year, had kids the same age, to start. I was also surprised to know that we may have been on the same bases many years ago. My sister (a 22 year Navy Pilot) graduated the same year Jay did from flight school in Florida and both were at the same base in Japan at the same time. I imagine the times I would visit my sister, I may have passed him on base. So in short, I started off planning to walk Jay’s Stone up the mountain and ended up walking with a friend. As a final tribute to my new friend I will be visiting him in San Diego this fall. My son (Alex) was commissioned last month and will be in San Diego from September through February. At that time, I will carve out some time to have a guy’s night out with Jay Aubin.
I want to personally thank TSP for this opportunity. I also want to thank the family and friends of Jay for allowing me to spent time with this special person. I was honor to get to know him.
On October 12th I carried the stone and the story of Marine Major Jay Aubin.
I was honored to have been able to feel the weight of the sacrifice he made. The small sacrifice I was making was with my time, hiking up the “great mountain” with a team of comrades all committed to the purpose of ensuring that heroes are not forgotten. Maj. Aubin and I have something in common – kindness. I watched a great video where Jay’s mother spoke of his accomplishments and acts of selflessness generosity. I always like to think that I care about others. I always like to think that there are there people who show kindness instead of the hatred. This was so true with Major Aubin. He cared more about others than he did himself and that alone speaks volumes of his character. The journey I made may not have ended with me at the top of a mountain but it continues in my mind and in my words when I speak of Jay and his kindness towards others and the sacrifice he made for us.
I will continue to hold his story in my mind and share it with others so that his memory and his actions may live on.
MHANF
I heard about the Summit Project through a good friend of mine and she invited me to participate at the TSP-ANC. I was a bit lost from the beginning on how to research Jay and to be honest, it took me a while. Somehow, it was like I knew him, the guy that I will follow anywhere and anytime. The leader, the good friend, the always joyful and the one that brings the best in others. I remember taking a break from my research because it hit me hard, I was sad. I went for a walk and started to think of all the people that speak so highly of Jay and what he meant and means for them. His actions through life defined him. He always fought the fights that need it to be fought, he protected the ones that couldn’t fight for themselves, Jay had six, always. Even through the hike at the Acadia national park, I knew he was there, walking with me. Even when he passed away so many years ago, he still have an impact in not only the ones that knew him, but in total strangers like me. Jay will be always part of my life and I will remember him for life.
His legacy is the good memories that he left behind in the ones that served with him, the ones that he lead and the ones that he inspired.
Jay was born a marine. He exemplified the core values, Honor, Courage, commitment. Semper fidelis, always faithful, always loyal…
To the family of Jay T Aubin,
As I sit here and reflect on the event I participated in over Memorial Day weekend, Ruck for the Fallen with TSP, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride. Not in what I accomplished, but pride in a man I never met, who knew from a young age what he wanted to do and worked hard towards that goal; a family I have yet to meet, that raised this man with core values of love, care of others and determination; and the group of people that came together to honor our fallen that renewed, once again, my faith that our fallen will never be forgotten.
I was able to obtain Jay’s beautiful stone a week before our event. We were able to spend some time together as I furthered my research into his life’s story. I was humbled listening to his mother’s video, listening to stories of Jay and how his stone was chosen. I was raised with similar characteristics as Jay and now have a motivation to better myself to live these values daily, as Jay did.
As we arrived at Back Cove Trail to start the ruck, I kept looking at the ominous sky. The cloud cover was heavy and stepping out into the wind coming off the water, I prayed for strength to carry out this mission. Seeing friends from past TSP events, Gold Star family Jeff and Betsy Hutchins and knowing that Jay had my back, I could feel my doubts start to fade.
As we stepped off, the pace was quick. My shins were saying “Not today” but my heart was saying “Watch me.” It took a mile to get in a groove and I felt really comfortable. There were some laughs and a few “flat tires” (I forgive the person behind me ☺) along the way and we came to our first stop after a little over 3 miles. A brief rest and we were off again. We made it to the end of Commercial street where there were 2 Portland police cruisers to escort us to the Casco Bay bridge. It was an amazing experience.
Crossing the bridge was windy and cold but we made it across to our second check point and was then escorted to the green belt by 2 South Portland police officers. As we entered the green belt, fatigue was starting to set in, but living close by, I knew we were close. As we neared our destination, we had a pleasant surprise. Major Dave Cote greeted us and walked the rest of the leg to Spring Point Light House. As I was taking pictures of Jay’s stone with the light house in the back ground, something happened that I will never forget.
Scott Carson approached me and said I needed to listen to a story from a gentleman standing there with what looked like a photo of Jay. He was a teacher at an elementary school in Skowhegan and described how a young girl in his class had made this photo by cutting out and Xeroxing all of the pictures of the fallen that was published in a newspaper article. This was a project that she was assigned after one of his teachings. The shading and design, looked just like Jay. He continued on about going to Arlington to lay wreaths with some of his school kids and having a helicopter fly over in honor of Jay. The story continues, but is much to long for this post, but it is a story I will NEVER forget.
After our circle testimony, and speaking about Jay’s path to service and the virtues that made him a man that I will always look up to, and strive to emulate daily, we started off on our return trip to our vehicles. We all stiffened up during our extended stay (due to tremendous wind and rain that had started), with the circle testimony and last call latrine breaks, and the push off was hard. Once again hooking up with South Portland police and being escorted to the ramp access of the Casco Bay bridge, my left hip was starting to bother me quite a bit. I was more concerned about my crummy knees, I didn’t think my hip would be the thing to challenge me. I was starting to fall a little behind in our column and I asked Jay for the strength to get up the ramp and over the bridge. I was able to trudge up the ramp, only to be assaulted by more wind on the return crossing, but this time it was aided by some piercing rain on the skin. Walking across the bridge I felt a sense of calm. I knew Jay had given me my second wind.
As we approached Commercial street, our Portland Police escort was waiting. I was counting on a little rest, as I was starting to lag again and this time a little further back, but none was to be had. I once again turn to Jay and his willingness to help those in need. I got my third wind, but my hip was feeling worse. I kept asking Jay to just get me to the end of Commercial street. As we approached the end of our escort, I knew there were going to be stairs to climb. I had my brother-in-law behind me, knowing I was struggling and feeling pain, letting me know that he was proud of me and that Jay would have been proud as well and that I was not a failure if I jumped in the truck to be able to avoid a prolonging injury. I took that advice.
Although I did not complete the 16 miles, I was able to complete just over 14 miles. At 54 years old, with knee surgery 3 months before Covid shut us down, I feel as if I let Jay down a little, but knowing the man that he was, and the amount of care and concern he had for those he cared for, I feel a little peace as well. Jay is now a part of my heart and will forever have a place to stay in there until we regroup.
Much love to his family and friends. Thank You!
Don Sargent
I carried Jay’s stone for 3 days while hiking 5 out of 6 peaks in Saranac Lake, NY June 11-13. We hiked up to 14 miles per day up to peaks ranging from 2,400 ft to over 3,800 ft. I climbed these peaks with the Veterans Service Organization, Team Red, White, and Blue. Each of us was was carrying a stone for the Summit Project. The hikes were anything but easy. The mountains in northern NY go straight up at times and there were times we were pulling each other up over very steep rock sections. On our 2nd day hiking, which was the longest, 2 peaks back to back 12 miles total my calf became impaled by a tree branch about 3 miles in. I looked down at my leg where there was some blood as well as calf meat coming out. It hurt and didn’t look great, but I knew I wasn’t going to quit. I was able to bandage my calf and just worry about it later. I continued the climb up our fist mountain with bandages and lots of ibuprofen. The pain didn’t hit me too much until the last grueling 4 miles down the second peak and through the forest to the parking lot, at which point I started decided whether or not to head to the hospital and get my wound checked out. After some coercing I went to the ER where I received 4 stitches. The next day would consist of 2 more hikes for a total of 7 miles. Again I trekked up 2 mountains while in pretty good amounts of pain. But I knew I wasn’t going to quit because I had to get Jay’s stone up the mountains to the peaks. I was able to complete 5 peaks that weekend, 2 of which with an open wound and another 2 with stitches. The final peak was unable to be completed that weekend due to bad weather on our final day of the trip. We rode back up to NY a month after to complete our final peak, which I was not going to left to be incomplete, for Jay. While at the top of our final peak, I raised my right hand in front of the flag to re-enlist in the Army for 6 more years. The whole journey of hiking the 6 peaks wasn’t for me. It was for Jay and his presence was felt through all 6 of my climbs. He is what got me through those 4 peaks while trying to ignore the pain I was in. Without him I don’t know if I would have been able to finish all the peaks.
To the family of Maj Jay T. Aubin,
I was deeply honored and humbled to carry Jay’s stone with a group of USM students who are either active duty military or veterans. The event allowed me to hear their stories at the very same time that I was able to reflect upon the sacrifices made by Maj Aubin and his beloved family. It was especially touching that he had been a student at USM and we had a member of the faculty from his program, who is a veteran of the armed forces. May his memory continue to be a blessing.
It was my honor to bring Sweet Pea’s stone to the Graduation Ceremony of the class of 2022 from the United States Military Academy at West Point. I am a retired teacher from the elementary school Jay attended as a child. Jay’s memory is alive and well among many there, so much so that a young graduate of West Point was commissioned this weekend as a Marine, no easy task. This new Marine will tell you it was stories he heard about Sweet Pea that started him on this path. He was thrilled to have Sweet Pea in “attendance.” Jay attended the Margaret Chase Smith School in Skowhegan. Part of the good Senator’s creed reads, “Honor is to be earned and not bought.” Major Aubin certainly earned his honor. It was mine to bring his stone to West Point as a new Marine follows in his footsteps.
It was my honor to carry Maj Aubin’s stone to Baxter State Park. It brought tears to my eyes when I thought of all the years the family missed with him. And the military lost a great leader. I understand good leaders being that I spent 20 1/2 years in the Air Force. He definitely was a gifted man in the way he cared for others and his troops. His ability to commend others speaks volumes of the humble man he was. The prayers that were said for him so that he could pass the eye exam to become a pilot tells me he was a man of great faith. Nancy, I hope you got the small gift I brought for you and one for Rita. You are an amazing Mom and you have an amazing friend in Rita. God Bless you and your families.
To the Aubin Family,
It was my privilege to carry the J.T.A. stone for The Summit Project’s hike of Owl Mt. in Baxter State Park Sunday May 29, 2022. And it was an honor to tell my version of his story.
Nancy, I watched the video of you explaining the significance of the stone you chose several times.
I anticipated that I would struggle with the weight and shape of it in my backpack. That didn’t happen though. I kept hearing your voice telling me that everything Jay did, he did for others. I repeated it in my mind many times that day. I was also concerned my knees would be painful coming back down the mountain…that didn’t happen either.
It is amazing what faith can do. I had faith that I could carry Jay’s stone and I did!
Part of telling my version of his story was to speak of his beautiful children. Now adults.
What paths in life did they choose? Are they parents?
To Jay, I am humbled to have introduced myself to you last week. I truly believe you changed the lives of the souls you touched then and continue to do so now. Your blue eyes, giant dimples and beautiful smile will be with me forever. Thank you for going the extra mile every time.
Rest In Peace
I love you.
I was given the honor of bearing Major Jay T. Aubin’s Memorial Stone on a hike up Mt. Agamenticus today. I had done the research before for the Circle Testimony time. I watched the Youtube video of Nancy Chamberlain sharing her son’s life.
When I was given the stone, I didn’t really think about the weight. Not until I put my pack on. Then I felt it. Only 8 pounds. But something about that 8 pounds. But I soldiered on. But the weight of grief for Jay’s family is always there. It never goes away. You just get used to it.
I learned a lot about Jay by reading other’s letters to his family. I was told to wait a day to write this. Not this kid. I’m writing with this fresh in my mind.
Jay’s life is a reflection of his mother, Nancy Chamberlain. She modeled the qualities that Jay learned. Would that we could all have role models like that.
I made it to the top of Agamenticus. We then had the Circle Testimony. We each gave Testimony to our Fallen Hero represented by the stone we carried. While hiking up, I learned more about Jay from Greg Johnson. Greg was heading up the hike, and knows quite a bit about each of our Maine Fallen Heroes.
I’ve now watched Nancy’s video 3 times. Cried as I read the letters to the family. I’m expecting to watch many more of David’s Youtube videos, because they will introduce me to more of our Maine Heroes.
As I sit here trying to compose this, I weep for a tragic loss. Jay did not die in vain. He continues to be a role model for as long as we keep his memory alive. He showed us grit, determination and sacrifice.
Others have already described this Man in detail. So what can I add?
His enlisted men nicknamed him “Sweet Pea.” What? A Marine? Sweet Pea? But this is the Man! Everyone who knew him remarked that he was always smiling, and how he took care of others. Truly a Sweet Pea.
All gave Some, but Some gave ALL.
I’m no Marine.
But I can only sum this up this way;
Semper Fidelis.
Rest in peace, Major Jay Aubin.
Go with GOD.
Jay’s Tribute Stone was the ballast for my 3-day, 45-mile ruck to the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA. It was a privilege to carry Jay’s stone and reflect on his selfless values of acknowledging, recognizing, and protecting others. It is clear from Jay’s mom’s video and from stories others have shared that Jay was a person of action who cared deeply about others.
As I stood in the memorial field in Shanksville on 9/11 and reflected on the decision of the 40 heroes on Flight 93 to take action, I felt that Jay would be proud of their bravery and risk-taking in an effort to put others first and protect the US from further catastrophe.
Jay’s character serves as a great example to all of us. It was a privilege to carry his stone and share his story across PA and again on a ruck march in CT.
Thank you for the opportunity to honor and remember Jay Aubin.
On the 24th of September 2022, I had the honor and privilege of carrying the stone and story of USMC Major Jay T. Aubin.
Although Jay’s stone was by far the heaviest that I have carried thus far, it was a reminder of the freedom that we continue to have due to Jay and his brothers’ heroism and bravery on the 21st day of March, which helped as I carried his stone up Dorr and Cadillac Mountain.
They always say the stone chooses you and I really think that’s true. Jay was 36 when he died. The same age that I am today. A bit of reality and reminder to live life to its fullest and to be thankful for the freedoms that we have because of people like Jay.
Jay was known for his kindness and nurturing nature – with an impeccable smile.
Please know it was an absolute honor and privilege to carry USMC Major Jay T. Aubin’s stone and tell his story. He will not be forgotten.
I had the distinct honor to carry with me the stone and story of Marine Major Jay “Sweet Pea” Aubin for the Hero’s Hundred hike. Ten hikers, ten days, lots of miles. The team took on the Hundred Mile Wilderness then pressed on to summit Mt. Katahdin. As I reflect on this hike, I’m truly not sure who carried who.
I spent a great deal of time reflecting on Jay’s nickname, given by his Marine brothers. How does someone who goes by “Sweet Pea” on account of his caring nature, come to pay the ultimate sacrifice for his country. What I talked about in our circle ceremony is that this is a reminder that our fallen heroes are so much more than faceless GI Joe’s. They are sons, fathers, brothers, friends, care takers. They’re our neighbors. They could be us. Sweet Pea was a man who knew when to be the gentle soul, and when to take care of business. And I am so grateful that he lived.
I talked to Jay quite a bit over those 10 days. We had a bit of rain to begin our hike. I asked Jay if we could get a break from it for setting up and taking down camp. I’m good with rain, but nobody likes to set up or pack up camp in the rain. Well, don’t you know, we didn’t have to do either. From there it was an open dialogue. Thank you for the sun on my shoulders, keeping me upright on water crossings, that perfect spot to dry out the tent during lunch, and so many more small but important things.
I will never forget this hike. Our team was incredible, and we had the eyes of our heroes upon us the entire time. We could all feel it and it was magic.
Thank you, Sweet Pea, for carrying me through this magnificent experience. I’m truly sorry for calling you Tank Ass on occasion. It was sincerely my pleasure to have you by my side and forever in my heart.
“Jack”
Family and Friends of Major Jay Aubin,
The weekend at Acadia was spectacular. Seeing TSP family is always good for the soul.
During my many hikes and events with TSP, I’ve heard stories of Sweet Pea and seen many tears shed. Learning about him I don’t think there’s a more fitting nickname.
During our hike, I tried my best to channel your strength and spirit. Your character spoke to me and I tried my best to put everyone first. It’s hard for me, but TSP has made me a better person and with your help, I’ve learned a lot more.
The day was beautiful and we had an amazing team to honor the heroes that we carried.
The stories that I read and heard are just a small part of you and your legacy. Caring for others and putting them ahead of yourself is one of the noblest things that anyone can do. For those of us that struggle with these things, leaning on your stories and remembering how you lived can really help us become better.
I will do my best to live a life worthy of your sacrifice and try my best to learn from your example.
Mike “Bazooka” Peterson
MHANF!
To the Family and Friends of Major Jay T. Aubin,
This is my third TSP ANP event, and my 4th tribute stone carried. After the last 2 hikes, I shared on Facebook about TSP and the soldiers I have so proudly carried with me for the day. After last years post, a high school friend, Tracy LaPointe Simpson, reached out and said her cousin has a tribute stone, and would I be able to carry and share the story. I was completely overcome with such honor to be able to do this for the family and have a personal connection. I immediately requested Jay’s stone, and TSP honored my request.
It was a beautiful sunny day , to hike Cadillac South Ridge Trail. There were 15 members on Team Gold. We had the opportunity to stop and take photos of our tribute stones along the way. We reached the summit and shared the stories.
I watched the video of his mom, Nancy, many times. Listened to the words humility, kind , strong in faith, taking care of others, leader. I read and reread the letters of other TSP volunteers that have had the privilege of sharing Sweet Peas story. His mom said “ when she saw the stone, she knew that was the one….. because it was STRONG just like Jay”.
I carried the stone for a day , but will carry his story in my heart forever. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.
God Bless
Stacey Morneault