By Susan Patten
Lincoln, Maine–When the process of assigning stones for the Tribute March started they were strangers to one another, but when it wrapped up Friday evening in the lobby of a local bank they left as friends with an unbreakable bond of admiration and respect.
The stones are engraved as a constant and enduring remembrance of fallen servicemen from Maine who died while serving our nation, and are part of The Summit Project founded by Mainer and Marine Major, David J. Cote.
Civilians, Jessica and Justin Cloukey, decided to take The Summit Project’s concept of a living memorial to the streets of Lincoln in a Tribute March yesterday.
“People in the community, and some already connected with The Summit Project, were assigned families who had a fallen service member and that individual had to research that service member to be able to share their stories as we place their stones in the honor display,”explained Cloukey.
Several Gold Star families were present to carry the stones of their fallen service member as part of the procession, during which more stories were told and memories shared.
The Summit Project stones of remembrance will be on display for six weeks of public viewing at the Machias Savings Bank branch in Lincoln.
Out of respect for the emotional nature of yesterday’s tribute, as participants spoke of their fallen sons and placed their stones into the honor case we were asked to not film, however, the rest of the Tribute March highlights can be seen in this accompanying video.
A challenge to the living so that our fallen will never be forgotten, The Summit Project returns to Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park in October.