Corporal Tyler “Wally” Wallingford was born in Portland Maine on June 3rd, 1997 and joined the United Stated Maine Corps February 2nd, 2017. Before he joined the Marines he was part of the JROTC program. Where he began to fulfill his military desire. Tyler completed his goal of becoming a Marine at Parris Island, South Carolina. After going through ordnance school he was stationed at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina. Tyler served as an Aviation Ordnance Technician with the MOS of 6531, in the VMFAT-501 squadron. Active and adventurous, as a teenager, Tyler joined the Standish Fire Department where he ran calls for both rescue and fire. He was proud of himself the day he walked out of a fire with a kitten in hand. While living in South Carolina he developed a new passion for skydiving, where he completed over 100 jumps, and often encouraged others to go for their first time. Proud of his own accomplishment, he celebrated his 100th skydive by jumping naked. His fearless and fun attitude inspired anyone who met him. Tyler’s memorial stone came from one of his favorite hangout at a family beach in Limerick on Pickerel Pond.
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Over this past Memorial Day Weekend, I had the privilege of carrying the stone and story of Marine Cpl Ty Wallingford on his very first journey with The Summit Project. I canât describe how much of an honor it was to have this opportunity, especially after having gotten to know his fiancĂ©e, Abby, so well and being able to share this experience with my daughter, Kanani, who went to school with both Abby and Tyâs younger brother, Kyle. This journey was actually the combination of two different treks â one on Sunday, May 24th in Portland and another in Bangor on Memorial Day, May 25th.
This entire year has been pretty strange to say the least with the COVID-19 pandemic in full effect. Never have we ever experienced something so drastic causing us to change our lifestyles through the implementation of such strict social distancing measures. Most prevalently, it has definitely required us to find new and interesting ways to adapt and overcome the current situation, though with every challenge comes new opportunities if you are able (and willing) to see those new doors as they open in front of you. This was the first year since TSP was created 7 years ago that we had to cancel our annual Memorial Day event at Baxter State Park and find yet a new way to accomplish the TSP mission. And thatâs exactly what we did.
On the morning of May 24th, I woke up at 6a and grabbed my pack and a coffee before loading everything into the truck with my daughter. We had decided that in lieu of hiking the Owl at Baxter State Park, we would instead carry our tribute stones on a ruck from Baxter Blvd in Portland to Spring Point Lighthouse in South Portland and back. In total, we would trek 16 miles. In my pack was 78 lbs â a pound for each of our fallen heroes honored within the organization. Along with this weight, was Tyâs stone wrapped in an American Flag. It wasnât until we had almost arrived at our starting point that I realized how in all the years of Marine training and the TSP events that followed, this would be the very first time my daughter and I would ever be able to ruck together.
As we started our trek around the boulevard and under Tukeyâs Bridge, I thought about how close the ties were that Ty and I shared. We both were born in Portland and lived in Standish. He worked in the Marine Airwing as an Aviation Ordnance Technician while my job now at Pratt & Whitney was building and overhauling the military jet engines that he worked on in the Marines. Yet our biggest commonality was our life view and how focused we both were to make the absolute most out of this life we were given. A memorial in Tyâs honor was built at Sebago Landing which is the very same place I go nearly every day to launch my boat and enjoy the peace and serenity of Sebago Lake under a fiery evening sunset. Each time I pass, I make sure to stop and pay my respects to Ty, touching the memorial stone which gives light to his life philosophy: âYou only live onceââŠ
I was fortunate enough to interact with quite a few people along the route. One lady came up to yell at me for not wearing a face mask (sorry, Iâm outdoors. Not wearing oneâŠ). Though every now and then in passing, someone would pause and ask what I was doing carrying a pack and an American flag through the city streets of Portland. I both welcomed and embraced each opportunity to bring Ty out of my pack and share both his story and the WHY behind this very meaningful trek on this very special weekend. Each encounter brought instant tears to the eyes of those who heard his story, and through those tears I watched the instant connection that each person felt deep down inside. Yet through those tears also came a smile. Not because we lost such a great person from within our community, but because we were so incredibly grateful that such a person had lived.
As the trek continued, the near-80 pounds on my back seemed to grow with every step I took. Originally, my goal was to challenge myself to a point that there was a chance I couldnât finish. Now, I was starting to question whether or not I would face that problem sooner rather than later. But in all honesty, I knew there was no way, no matter how heavy it felt or how long it took, that I could ever stop. I knew I could never forgive myself if I failed to accomplish mission on Tyâs first trek. At this point, I knew that I wasnât doing this for me. I was doing this for something much greater than me. I was doing it for Ty. I was doing it for Abby. I was doing it for his friends and his family. Quite literally, Ty gave me the strength I needed and was the ONLY reason I kept pushing through the pain and putting one foot in front of the other, taking one step at a time. I could feel his presence with me and I wasnât going to let him down.
I often talk about the funny things that happen when carrying the tribute stones of TSP on these treks. Too many things have occurred that I will never be able to explain and Iâve stopped attempting to. Through these occurrences Iâve learned that there are no coincidences, and this trek would prove to be no different. As I approached the end of our ruck, drenched in sweat from head to toe, my back feeling like I would never walk again, I got ready to take those last few steps. Just 50â ft to the finish line, I turned onto a street that would take me the rest of the way home. As I did, I looked up and stopped dead in my tracks. I had rucked this route probably 20-30 times before over the past few years, but never once did I ever notice the name of the street that I ended my journey on each time. Today I did. It read: âWallingford Dr.â
The next day, Kanani and I woke at 4a to once again load the truck and travel north to Bangor to participate in the annual Ruck to Remember. TSP had partnered with this incredible organization for two years now, but the event always took place down in Virginia. However, due to this COVID pandemic (remembering the doors that open in even the darkest of times) R2R was splitting up its group into outposts from each state in order to conduct their event semi-virtually. We were joining the Maine Outpost on their trek through Bangor to the Korean War Memorial in Mt Hope Cemetery. Again, no coincidences as this location was where the circle testimony took place on one our first third-party events that we supported back when TSP was created in 2014. I had the honor of joining them during this trek as well so the area was fairly familiar to me.
Once our group reached this memorial, we sat and conducted our own circle testimony teaching each member of our team about the heroes we were carrying. Tyâs story led our ceremony, and as I shared the stories and the familyâs favorite memories of him, I realized just how much it felt like I knew him personally. Thatâs when I realized, I HAD come to know him on a personal level. Maybe not physically meeting him, but through the lives we lived in this community, through our life views, through our service, and through his family. Itâs still incredible to me how during these treks we are able to build such a deep connection with someone who weâve never had the chance to meet, yet thatâs what makes this all so incredibly special to me. We could have passed each other by a thousand times and never known it. We did serve on the same base in the same branch of service and because of that he will always be my brother. I will forever be grateful to have the opportunity to show my appreciation for Ty in this very special way. His memory will always live on within me. I hope that as more people have the chance to carry his stone and learn his story that he will have the chance to live on in each and every one of them as well. But more than anything, I hope that people will learn his story and aspire to be all the very same things that he was.
To Abby and the rest of the Wallingford family, thank you for this opportunity to carry Ty with me and honor him on this Memorial Day Weekend.
This past weekend I had the honor of carrying the stone and the story of Cpl. Ty Wallingford for TSP’s Acadia hike. I was a last minute addition to the outing, and fortunately able to substitute for the person originally planning to carry Ty’s stone. To Ty’s family and loved ones, I am sorry for your loss. Losing a loved one is never easy, especially to lose them at such a young age. The manner of how Ty died makes it that much more difficult.
When I first read about Ty being accidentally shot and killed by a fellow marine, I was deeply saddened. I also found myself being angry at his friend who pulled the trigger that day. I then realized that not only was Ty’s life cut too short, but the life of the other marine was going to be forever changed as well. He was going to have to carry the guilt of his mistake for the rest of his life. So, my anger was pointless.
As I hiked with Ty’s stone, I thought about some of the things his fiancĂ© , Abby told me about him. She told me he always liked to make people smile and laugh, how he could light up a room, and that his goal in life was to help people. He lived by the motto ” you only live once “. It’s those thoughts that made me ask myself, ” do I want to be angry for what happened?” Do I need to worry about the ” what ifs ” that may have changed the tragedy on that day? Unfortunately, nothing can change what happened. So, as I hiked the mountain I thought of Ty’s spirit. Instead of being sad or angry, I should enjoy the moment and make people laugh and smile. Think of happy times and funny stories. I took in the beauty of the mountains and ocean around me. I laughed with my fellow Team Bubble hikers as we made our way to the summit. I enjoyed the moment and company I was in.
Our mission was to remember the heroes and keep their spirit alive. I felt this was how Ty would have been if he were carrying the stone of a fallen hero. Respectful, contemplative, and enjoying the beautiful day and people around him. When we are at the top of Cadillac, I shared Ty’s story with my fellow hikers. I told of his crazy, fun, naked skydiving adventure. We laughed and we smiled. Ty wasn’t there in the flesh, but his spirit still lit up the room.
To Ty’s family and his fiancĂ© Abby, I am sorry for your loss and I thank you for letting me honor his memory. Find peace and cherish the memories.
One week before the Marine Corps Birthday I decided to sign my husband and I up to complete the Marine Corps Marathon the following weekend. Iâve never done more than a 10K but YOLO, right? This would be our first ever marathon and it seemed only fitting to take a Hero with us. I knew how much support and motivation would come from carrying the stone of a Hero so I reached out to Greg Johnson to see if it could happen. He told me that he was thinking of two stones and I reminded him that the stones pick us so he already knew who it was. Greg asked me to carry the stone of Cpl. Tyler P. Wallingford. I went to pick up the stone that night and made sure to stop at the Standish Boat Landing to see the memorial Tylerâs family worked so hard to put up in his honor. Little did any of us know or remember but it was November 2, 2020, exactly one year since the monument was dedicated. No coincidences. Just like I said, the stones pick us and Tyler was showing he was with us.
We knew that trying to complete a marathon would be hard but nothing compared to the challenges Gold Star Families and the Heroes have faced. As part of the marathon ruck, we thought it would be important to recognize these sacrifices and dedicate each mile to a Hero for Veteranâs Day. Our family sat together, with Tylerâs stone, and took time to pick out 26 Heroes and learn their story. It felt right to honor all of Tylerâs fellow Marines as well as members of each branch of the military. Each mile of our ruck was dedicated to one of the Heroes we learned about. Tyler was with us throughout the ruck and his stone took every step with me. The miles really became a struggle around mile 10. It became harder with every step. Again there are no coincidences and mile 13 was the mile dedicated to Cpl. Wallingford. It was as if he was saying I see you and I know how hard you are working but itâs okay if you need to stop. You have pushed hard. We decided to stop at a half-marathon.
For most of the night my husband and I wrestled with our decision. It didnât feel right to quit a mission that I committed to carry a memorial stone for. We committed to 26.2 miles and decided to finish the marathon the following day. It wasnât a traditional marathon but we owed those miles and decided to adapt and overcome. We were going to honor the remaining Heroes and finish what we set out to do! I grabbed my ruck and we set out first thing the next day. This time, we brought our kids and attacked the mission as a family. It felt right. We were able to laugh, joke, and enjoy our time. It felt light hearted and fun â not unlike what I imagine Tyler was like. We completed our miles at the Veteransâ Cemetery in Augusta and it was a good chance to say thank you. We shared Tylerâs stone and story with some people we met and that felt good. Every single person smiled at laughed at the naked skydiving story. That energy is just contagious and so much fun!
To wrap up my time with Cpl. Wallingfordâs stone, we completed a Hero WOD from Crossfit called âChad.â This meant doing 1000 weighted step-ups which I did with Tylerâs memorial stone in my ruck. It felt good to do such a meaningful workout while honoring his memory. It really felt like he was there pushing us towards our goals. We had set out to achieve a really tough goal and were able to do so with his support and encouragement. His fearless and fun attitude inspired us to just go for it and chase down the goal. We truly tried to live up to his YOLO mentality and tackle some goals that other people might have seen as crazy. I think he was the perfect partner throughout this week and I am honored to have spent time with him and hope we honored his spirit and fun loving attitude during our time carrying his memorial stone!
Thank you for sharing your Hero with our family.
The scotch was as bad as I expected. And I’m a scotch girl. But for the memory of Tyler, I opened my mind and my mouth with appreciation for his sacrifice and the opportunity I had been given to honor him.
Cheers, Ty.
He was by all accounts a kid. And I dare say, and old soul. It seems he knew how to touch others in a way that went beyond that of a kid. I sit here alone trying to capture the essence of Tyler. When I was assigned his stone, I recognized his name. Not from the previous events I’d done with TSP, but from the radio a few years back. Or maybe it was a news article on Facebook. What a tragedy, he was just a kid. Knowing how hard the death of a son, brother, young man in a community hits, my heart felt heavy. I thought of his family, his friends. I I thought of his brothers in arms. I wondered if I would some day see his stone at TSP. And here I am, just a few days after carrying Tyler’s stone. Having his brand of scotch in honor of him. Thinking about all the things his family and friends and community had to say about him. It feels like the world is running a little short of the kind of man Tyler was. He felt the call to serve. To help. Not just with the local fire department and our great country, but with his friends, to lift them up and to advise, to put a smile on their face.
I know he is missed tremendously by many. The world itself has lost something huge – the potential held by a kid, a man that has just begun.
As I dug deeper and deeper in Tyler’s life, one thing kept popping into my head: he’s a helper, a healer, an angel. And there you have it. If you believe in this kind of thing, then Tyler was meant to be here just for awhile, he obviously had a greater purpose, and I know he is still with those he loved, keeping them safe. And if you don’t believe in that kind of thing, that’s okay too. Tyler was just one of those special kind of people that makes you feel so much better after you talk to him. I feel better just having the opportunity to get to know who he was and sharing his story with a group of like minded individuals. His name, his memory, will live on.
To his family, friends, brothers, and neighbors in the community: Remember the best times, share those stories, and toast him with that god awful peaty scotch.
Tylerâs family and friends,
First off, this was the hardest hero Iâve carried, and Iâve been with TSP since 2014. Reading about the manner of your death made me angry and I cried ugly tears.
Bigger than that was the scotch you drank. Thereâs a lot to unpack here. One does not just pick up a bottle of Ardbeg 10 Year on a whim and it becomes your drink of choice. There has to be a back story, and if someone would be so kind to tell me, I would love to hear it. Those that know me know I love bourbon and rye, and not the cheap stuff. I havenât ventured into Scotch because thereâs too much on this side of the pond to dabble in. Peaty, smokey Scotch wouldnât be my go to in any reality.
I tried it for the first time after the hike. I found a secluded place at NEOC so I could spend some time with you. That time was cut a bit short because the bugs were awful. The Scotch wasnât much better.
On your birthday, I tried it again. I was told it needed to sit for a while to âbreatheâ. How long? I gave it a while, and the initial stank seemed to go away, but it was very present in the taste. I did give it a chance and thankfully only poured a small amount. I love you and respect you, but WHY?
Thereâs a lot more to Tyler than this, and I made use of the interweb to find other gems. Your FB page is filled with stories and tributes and how much people miss you. Your antics and your life are very well represented. The biggest takeaway that I had was how large you lived your life. YOLO is an overused clichĂ©, but thatâs how you lived your life. Taking risks, living large and having fun.
Our hike was in the Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area, and we conquered the Rainbow Loop. The bugs were terrible, but the trail was nice. Our team had a few minor issues, but we persevered and completed our mission together. Iâm sure you would have been walking very close to the edge of some of the cliffs at the view points to test yourself.
I told stories of your skydiving adventures, your firefighting, and how you loved to tell stories. We laughed and we cried.
Iâll never forget you and your Scotch. For future hikers, donât but the Scotch, Iâll bring my bottle to any hosted event if youâd like to risk your tastebuds for Tyler.
Live your life like Tyler and step out of your comfort zone. Take a risk! Iâm not sure jumping out of a perfectly good plane will be one that I take!
Mike âBazookaâ Peterson
MHANF!
To the Friends and Family of Tyler,
My name is Scott, and this past September was my first remembrance hike with the Summit Project. I was assigned to carry the stone for Tyler, and dived into what I could find out about him. I felt there were a few things about his loss that were unique from others. It was disheartening to find that not only was he taken from us on domestic soil, but also so young in the first couple years of his career. Having read more about what people say about him as a person, and in particular with his services to firefighting, I feel like he had so much more to offer. Potential that will never be realized because of a fellow soldier’s actions under the influence…. It’s difficult to not feel anger about this.
Know that, from the beginning to the end of the hike, I carried his stone in my hands out in the open rather than keeping it in the hiking bag. For the few times I needed to get over rougher terrain, I had very willing friends nearby to hold the stone up for me briefly. Tyler’s stone enjoyed the beautiful day and saw the same views of the Maine coast that we all did….
I give kudos to his enthusiasm for skydiving. I have friends that regularly enjoy that and when they speak of it, they are always smiling. None of my friends, however, have 100+ jumps under their belt (or skin according to that 100th jump). I don’t know the mindset it takes to want to jump out of a plane, repeatedly, but it’s a brave endeavor, nonetheless. The world could use more of that……
I never found any mentioning’s of a liking for scotch by Tyler, in my own research, until I started to write this and saw others’ past letters. Scotch…. I’ve kinda always felt is a celebratory drink a hardened soul earns after a victory of some measure. Or a drink one enjoys in reflection of things that have already happened, or in anticipation of things yet to come. It should be poured for your return from deployment. For your wedding. For your retirement. Some say that Scotch tastes better with age. Writing this makes me realize it’s not just the age of the scotch that matters, but the age of the person enjoying it. I have to believe it would be a better glass when it’s poured by hands with decades of experiences and stories…..
With our age difference, it is unlikely that Tyler and I would have ever crossed paths. It is bittersweet, and a little poetic, to learn about a stranger this way. Despite that, I took on this task like my fellow hikers that day, and others from past hikes; with full enthusiasm and dedication to keeping the memories alive. Know that Tyler will not be forgotten, and he still touches the lives of others as time moves forward….
On Sunday, May 28, 2023, I had the honor and privilege of carrying the stone and story of Marine Cpl Tyler âWallyâ Wallingford. Despite this being my third Summit Project hike, I found it to be the most challenging. My other hikes had been significant distances but in urban settings in the Greater Portland Metro area. This hike to the summit of The Owl in Baxter State Park (BSP), was an experience that I will never forget. However, Iâd like to share some of the amazing observations that led to our hike and comment on the incredible community of The Summit Project (TSP) volunteers, board members, hikers, and families.
I arrived in Millinocket on Saturday, May 27, 2023, about an hour before the famed motorcycle convoy was scheduled to arrive, seeing the signs of local businesses along the main drag plastered with welcome messages to the TSP. When I arrived at the beautiful grounds at the NE Outdoor Center, I was greeted by one smile after another from TSP volunteers. Everything was in order and shortly after that, we lined up to welcome the largest TSP convoy in history! Nearly 100 bikers had made the seven-hour journey from Portland to Katadhin, each carrying a stone. At the opening ceremony, each member of the convoy presented their stone to the Gold Star Families and paid their respects. From there, we transitioned into our meal and briefing for the strenuous hike that awaited us the next day. During our briefing, we were presented with our stones, and the true weight of the event and our journey ahead started to set in.
The next day, our teamâTeam Redâset out shortly after sunrise to BSP. After a bumpy 30-min drive, we arrived at the trailhead, ready to embark on a 4-mile, 3,800 ft. climb to The Owlâs summit. Conditions were fair and along with the 3+ liters of water and fuel Iâd brought, the weight of Wallyâs stone kept me grounded. We took several pictures of the stones along the way, near beautiful views of Kathdhin and other surrounding mountains, taking great care to keep the stones wrapped around. When we finally reached the summit, the ceremony began.
While I had participated in TSP ceremonies before, this one was different. Wallyâs storyâhis life taken by another soldier fraught with alcohol addiction in a horrible accidentâwas burdensome, to say the least. Wally was full of life before this tragic accident and returning to the story of his 100th skydive jump, where he decided to ditch his clothes during the descent, was just the bit of humor we needed to combat our tears. Nonetheless, the emotions ran high as another member of our hiking team had carried Wallyâs stone in 2022, and I related closely to the unfortunate themes of addiction that had cursed my wifeâs family. It was beyond tough to tell Wallyâs story aloud, as much as Iâd rehearsed what I wanted to say in my head before and during the strenuous hike. Yet, it was perhaps the release needed to embrace the journey Iâd taken with Wallyâs stone, and the stones carried by my fellow hikers. At the summit, we took several more photos of the stones, with breathtaking views of Mt. Katadhin, before packing up and heading back to the trailhead.
When we returned the stones at the closing ceremony, the emotions set in again, yet, here, the comfort of the Gold Star families and volunteers reemerged. The culture of the TSP is something organizations should aspire to, and, the dinner, reception, and more views of BSP provided to all of us at the event center were so incredible to take in. When we returned to the campsite and bonfire, I was welcomed by a community I felt a special connection to. Together, we pledged to make sure Maineâs heroes are not forgotten.
Wally, may you rest in peace. You were taken from us far too early.
And, to your family, thank you for sharing your legacy with us, so that you will never be forgotten.
I will have to say first this is the first story I had to stop researching because how deeply it was affecting me. I saw so much of myself in his story.
Dear Cpl Wallingford
It looks like we both went to Parris Island, we also went into the aviation ordnance field, and if that wasnât enough we also both joined the fire department. We were both stationed in the Carolinas. Although you saved a cat in a house fire, I saved a dog. Dogs rule, cats drool.
You had a passion for skydiving, I believe that you would have encouraged me to go for my first time, I would have had to do it in my birthday suit also. I hear that you loved Ardbeg 10 scotch, I hear that I am lucky that I couldnât find any, but I did make a toast with a good whisky for yeah.
My work was doing its 3rd annual Hike with TSP, and when I got there all of the hikers were in the front office lobby talking about their heroes while we waited to get our heroâs stone, it all became so surreal when they called your name. I was able to get myself back together on the drive over to the hike. It was a nice cool hike, and everything was going as planed until I thought that it was a good idea to go 2nd when we sat down to talk about our heroes while at the summit. The full emotion of your story came out. As I took a pause I looked up at the clouds and saw a hawk flying in a circle a couple hundred feet above me. It dipped its wing as if to say Iâm here brother, let me help you. You stayed in the area the whole rest of the hike, every time I looked up you were there. There is more to this story.
I got home from the hike and had to jump on my motorcycle to ride up to Bangor for a meeting with a bunch of Jarhead MC brothers. As a couple of us pulled into our hotel two F35 fighter jets took off from the local base. The first jet did a very fast full power and very vertical take off as if hey everyone âlook upâ. The next one took a slower take off, but did a loop over the hotel and dipped its wing just as the Hawk did. Then leveled out and took off. As it flew away I started to get watery eyes but not because I was sad, because I was happy that I got to know you. I talked to everyone I met about you that weekend. We even raised a glass to you after dinner. I will speak your name until I canât speak anymore. You are my brother you will never be forgotten.
Scott B. Carson
SSgt USMC ret.
To the Family and Friends of Tyler ,
On September 23rd, I had the honor and privilege to carry the stone and story of US Marine CPL Wally. This was my first hike with TSP and I can not explain how much of an honor it was to have this opportunity. This journey made me not only connect with Tyler but a little bit more with my father who is a former Marine.
After learning about Ty and the wonderful person he is, I was truly saddened by his passing. I personally wish I had reached out to the family to share my condolences. I just had simply not done something like this and was very unsure how to approach it. However, what I was able to learn about him, was how truly a great and very out going kid he was. One who always had a smile on his face. When I learned about Ty saving a kitten from a fire it made my heart smile. Tyler was such a brave kid who could do anything he set his mind to. While learning about him, and the kind hearted man he is, made me really wish I could have met him. Everything I read in his honor has all been how adventurous and kind hearted he truly was.
Carrying Tyâs stone truly meant a lot to me. This was my first hike with the project and to have his stone find me, truly honored me. I had also never had hiked to the top of Cadillac before and being able to carry a great man, made the trip all that more meaningful to me. As I walked the trail and taking in all the views I could feel as though someone was right beside me. When I put my pack on with his stone, it was almost like someone was holding me up. I have been a bit of a slow hiker but this time it was almost like I had someone pushing me to go harder than ever before. It made me just think of how Ty was such a hard worker and how he was the one pushing me to do the same. It truly felt like he was right there with me helping me along the path every step of the way.
I know Tyler is with us everyday. He is always looking down on us everyday knowing we are doing okay. He will forever stay in my heart. I have not stopped thinking about Tyler since the hike to the summit and I will forever think of him when I hike going forward. I am forever thankful his family is a part of TSP and giving everyone before and me the opportunity to learn about him. Thank you Tyler for finding your way to me.
Thank you,
Ky
On May 21 2024 it was a hot day going up Tumbledown Mountain. Once we had gotten to the summit and had laid down Cpl. Tyler Wallingford’s stone. I had learned what the meaning of the stone and how they had gotten it from his favorite hang out spot at pickerel pond. and I learned about how he had a passion for sky diving. I am honored to be able to learn about him and his story.
Barbara and Richard, on August 10, 2024, I participated in the Ruck for the Fallen at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester and I had the honor of carrying Tylerâs memory stone during the ruck. I canât begin to tell you how being involved in this event has deeply affected me. My heart was filled with joy and a deep sadness at the same time. Joy, because the Summit Project protects the memories of our service members and deep sadness for your loss. As always, my thoughts and prayers are with your family.
I had the honor and pleasure of carrying your stone at ANP Sept 20th to Echo Lake. It was a pleasure to learn about you as a person and a Marine. I see where you developed a passion for skydiving my son too had gone but only twice as tandem and he always wanted to take me but like you he passed away too soon. You are never forgotten. To the family I am so sorry for your loss but glad to get to know a little about him