Honoring Fallen Heroes of Maine through The Summit Project

story by Lisa Pengel

The Summit Project (TSP) welcomes groups of any size and any affiliation who want to carry the memorial stones and memories of our fallen in order to honor and sustain their memories. If you represent a group, have an idea for a Team Event, we want to know it. Get involved today. We to invite you to be part of TSP, and we thank you for honoring our heroes through this living memorial.

The Summit Project, a nationally recognized, Maine based, 501(c)3 service organization, is a living memorial that pays tribute to the fallen service members from Maine who have died in the line of duty since September 11, 2001. We have fundamentally changed the way we honor our post 9/11 fallen heroes from Maine. The mission of The Summit Project is to honor our state’s newest war casualties and the faithful spirit of all Mainers.

TSP inspires service, strengthens communities and changes lives. It has reinforced the values that all Mainers hold dear – we look after one another, we remember one another, we make sacrifices for one another, we are faithful to each other and we lift each other to higher places, both literally and figuratively.

Mainers are veterans. Veterans comprise nearly 15 percent of our state’s population ranking among the very highest veteran populations of any state in America. Put another way, nearly 1 in 7 Maine adults is a veteran. Maine’s patriotism and commitment to service in our Armed Forces is nothing short of extraordinary. We must match with equal devotion, our commitment to them. They served us, we must now serve them by remembering them and taking care of our living veterans. I hope this memorial can help tell the stories of a generation of brave Maine veterans who did not return home but whose service and sacrifice must never be forgotten. This is a story of our generation of Maine service members — a story that needs to be told. TSP gives us an opportunity to say to our veterans you did your job. You served with honor. You made us proud. We are connected to you and continue to learn from your example. We are inspired by you because we took the time to learn about you. We do not forget you.

Visit the website for more information, and to get involved.

I had the honor of hiking with two fallen soldier’s stones recently. On 1/8/16 I summited Mt. Megunticook in Maine, and on 1/17/16 I summited Mt. Hight in NH, with several friends. I carried the stones of Army Spc. Beau Beaulieu and Army Sgt. Roukey. I read the information the families provided about their soldiers on TSP website, and talked about these young men during my hikes. I encourage everyone to get involved in keeping the memories alive of those who have sacrificed everything for our nation. After completing the hikes, the final step is writing up a report to share with the families. Here are excerpts from what I wrote:

Army Spc. Beau Beaulieu, aged 20, from Lisbon, was assigned to the 27th Main Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX. He was killed May 24, 2004 during a mortar attack on Camp Cooke in Taji, Iraq. Beau’s wife Christina has posted information about him on the TSP website. Christina, I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. Also to Beau’s parents and family members, my sincere condolences. From what you have written about him Christina, you two were truly in love. You wrote that Beau was the nicest guy you would ever meet in your life. He also joined the army to follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. Beau wanted to make a difference. He had a heart of gold. I want you to know that he will never be forgotten, and I spoke of him and all the things you wrote about him during my hikes.

Army Sgt. Roukey, aged 33, from Westbrook, was assigned to Detachment 1, 3rd Battalion, 304th Regiment, 98th Division, Army Reserve, Lewiston, Maine. He was killed April 26, 2004, by a large explosion while performing site security in Baghdad. The video I watched on TSP website, was done very nicely by Larry’s sister, Dottie. I could picture Larry as I listened to her speak about his newly found passion for hiking, which he took up to get back into shape and improve his health. I love the way Dottie retrieved the stone for TSP from their childhood home in Portland, Maine (a bit on the sneaky side!). And what a brother Larry was, to hike with Dottie up to the summit of Mt. Washington for her very first hike! Larry was the 3rd generation of army men in his family, he made them all proud, and I know that our nation is grateful for his service. I would like to say to Larry’s family that I am truly sorry for your loss.

Winter hiking in the high peaks of the White Mountains can be quite precarious, and as we hiked to the summit of Mt. Hight, we commented on the challenge of this hike, but how it must have paled in comparison to the challenges facing Beau and Larry during their time in Iraq. Once at the summit of Hight, I read information that Beau and Larry’s family had posted on TSP site. We all chatted about them and their sacrifices. We saw 6 other hikers throughout our decent, and spoke to each of them about the soldiers. Keeping their memory alive is so important to the families and the nation. We must never forget them, and all soldiers serving and that have served. It was a glorious day to be up high, with friends, and making new friends with Beau and Larry, who have now travelled with us for many miles.