ORONO – The University of Maine will host a hike and memorial service to honor fallen service members from UMaine and surrounding communities.

The Summit Project (TSP) event will take place Saturday, Sept. 26 with a walk from the Maine Veterans Home in Bangor to Alfond Stadium on the UMaine campus for the military appreciation football game.

TSP is a nationally recognized, Maine-based service organization, that provides a living memorial to pay tribute to the fallen service members from Maine who have died in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001.

As part of the event, hikers will carry engraved TSP memorial stones that have been donated by family members to represent their fallen loved ones. Volunteers will learn about the service members whose stone they will carry, write a letter for the service member’s family, and read it during a memorial service on campus following the trek.

Among the service members to be honored are four fallen UMaine Black Bears: Staff Sgt. David Veverka, Sgt. Nicholas Robertson, 1st Lt. James Zimmerman and Capt. Jay Brainard.

The 8-mile walk is expected to take about four hours.

About 25 hiking spots are available with preference being given to the military family community at UMaine. Backup hikers may be assigned. A registration form is available online. Spots are limited.

Members of the public are welcome to observe the event along the route, on campus or at the football game.

The stones will be on display at the stadium prior to and during the game before becoming part of a temporary TSP display in the Memorial Room of the Memorial Union.


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