If something is said to be “written in stone,” it’s meant to last forever. That’s how the University of Southern Maine is treating the memory of military members who died while on active duty.
“It means a lot. I know my son is never going to be forgotten,” said Cindy Williamson. “It’s hard, but at the same time, it makes it easier to handle that he’s gone.”
Williamson is the mother of Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Dubois. While growing up in Kennebunk, he dreamed of joining the Navy. His service on the USS Pinckney took him to California where he died unexpectedly in 2020. He was 29 years old.
Dubois’ name is engraved on a rock currently housed at the McGoldrick Center in Portland. It’s one of 20 rocks, each bearing the name of a different service member. They went on display on April 11 as part of a full day of events, organized by the Military-Affiliated Student Hub (MASH) and the Leadership and Organizational Studies (LOS) program.
The day started with a ruck. In military jargon, a ruck is a training march that builds strength and endurance. The word comes from the heavy rucksacks or backpacks worn by the trainees. Instead of survival gear, participants in the ruck at USM carried the memorial stones.
The ruck followed a seven-mile loop around Back Cove with a detour through Portland’s East End neighborhood for lunch at Fort Allen Park. An early morning downpour had dwindled to a drizzle by the time the group set out. Conditions remained damp, gray, and chilly for the length of the journey.
“I’m glad the rain held off, but we would have done it rain or shine,” said MASH Coordinator Katherine Reynolds. “We didn’t really mind. It was a little chilly, but once we started moving, we warmed up, and we had a great time.”
Part of the commitment to carry a rock included learning about the person behind the engraving. No extra research was necessary for Rodney Mondor, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students. The name on his rock, Sgt. Christopher Gelineau, was already familiar to him.
Gelineau served in Iraq with the 133rd Engineer Battalion of the Maine Army National Guard. In 2004, he was part of a convoy that came under attack and died of his injuries. Gelineau got the call to deploy while he was working toward a degree in Information and Communications Technology at USM. Mondor was his advisor.
Several of the stones memorialize USM community members. The list includes Maj. Jay Aubin (Marines) and Capt. Daniel Tranchemontagne (Army). Their families selected the stones from places that held meaning to the honorees.
Each stone is unique, like the individuals they represent. They can be round or angular, smooth or rough, monochromatic or flecked with color. But all of them need to be the same basic size as a football – small enough to fit into a backpack and large enough to be felt.
Dubois’ rock went to University President Jacqueline Edmondson. Upon receiving it, she learned that his mother would be joining the group at the end of the ruck. They greeted each other with a hug and brushed away tears as they spoke.
“I was really happy that she could be here and that she could also share her story,” Edmondson said. “It was a bit emotional for me to meet her after reading her son’s biography and understanding more about his life.”
The preservation of those personal stories is what The Summit Project (TSP) is all about. TSP is a nonprofit organization. Its leaders have been collecting and managing the memorial stones since 2013. The stones have been carried everywhere from city streets to mountain trails. Between events, they’re kept on public display. USM is the latest host site.
A documentary explaining TSP’s history and mission screened at the McGoldrick Center after the ruck ended. The last order of business was to return the stones to their display case just outside the screening room and inaugurate the exhibit with a ribbon cutting. Edmondson and LOS professor Dr. Dan Jenkins each had a hand on the oversized scissors.
“This is a well-traveled area of campus. To have that as a present reminder is really impactful,” said Reynolds.
The stones will remain at USM for two months, then they go back to their permanent home at the Maine Military Entrance Processing Station in Portland until the next event. Every stop is a new chance for viewers to see the names behind the glass and maybe learn more about them. That’s what Williamson hopes for her son, Brandon Dubois.
“He loved cars. He was outdoorsy,” Williamson said. “He had re-upped for another four years with the Navy, and I think he would still be in right now. He was a good kid.”