Maine Servicemembers Honor Fallen Heros During Maine Marathon
Story by Sgt. Angela Parady
Photos Courtesy of Kyra Darling and Rachel Bosse.
On a crisp fall Sunday, over
two dozen Maine National
Guardsmen met before
sunrise at the Portland
Armory on Stephens Ave.
They pinned on their race
numbers, “86,” picked up
their rucksacks, and headed
to the starting point for the
Maine Marathon.
Fighting off blisters, sore
muscles and exhaustion,
the servicemembers took
on the 26-mile journey
of the Portland marathon
while toting more than 30
pounds in their rucksacks.
With photographs, buttons,
and memories of their
fallen brothers and sisters,
they walked, keeping the
memories of these heroes
alive.
Eight years ago, Maj. Grant
Delaware, executive officer
for Headquarters and
Headquarters Company,
286th Combat Sustainment
Battalion in Bangor, contacted
the race director for the
Maine Marathon about a
tribute march that would
coincide with the marathon.
Since then, the event has
become a staple with soldiers
participating every year,
regardless of deployments,
work and training schedules,
and even, a government
shutdown.
Sgt. 1st Class Timothy
MacArthur, communications
team chief for the 11th
Weapons of Mass Destruction,
Civil Support Team in
Waterville, has participated
in every march since 2006.
In the last few years he
has taken on the role of
coordinator, planner, marcher,
and pace keeper. Looking
back at previous marches, he
finds one point in the march
always remains the most
challenging.
“The last two miles are the
hardest of the entire 26,” he
said. “One, it is very slow,
so at that point it hurts.
But we stay that slow pace
because for those last miles,
we have everyone. We have
grandparents, we have
children, and everyone comes
together then. Every year,
it is very emotional, when
everyone is together, and
when we cross the finish line,
it hits me. Every time.”
Many of the servicemembers
who come out do so year
after year. Connections
have formed with the family
members who join those
last two miles. As the family
members are welcomed into
the formation, they often fall
in beside soldiers they have
come to know. They share \
hugs, stories, and memories
as they walk. A soldier at
the front and back of the
formation help hold a steady
pace so that no one is left
behind.
When they started the tribute
march, the number of fallen
was seven. This year, 86
servicemembers, all with
connections to Maine, were
honored.
MacArthur, who has been
active in the military for 13
years, said this is something
he looks forward to every
year.
“I do it every year. I enjoy
the challenge, the physical
aspect of it,” he said. “But
mostly, I do it to let those
family members know
they are still a part of the
organization. We can’t just let
them fall by wayside because
their servicemember isn’t
here anymore. We need to
continue to bring them in
and include them because
the Maine National Guard,
we are all about family. You
form those bonds. I do it
every year for the families,
to let them know we haven’t
forgotten.”
Peggy Dostie, of Sommerville
is the mother of fallen
soldier Spc. Tommie Dostie.
Tommie was one of two
Maine Guardsmen killed
in killed in an explosion at
Forward Operating Base
Marez near Mosul, Iraq on
December 21st, 2004. Staff
Sgt. Lynn Robert Poulin was
the other soldier. She and her
husband have only missed
one of the marches since
they began. Dostie said that
events like the tribute march
and the Run for the Fallen
that bring together current
servicemembers and families
of the fallen, are a chance
for her to reconnect with that
part of her son’s life.
“We appreciate
everything
that these soldiers
are doing. Whether
its serving
overseas, or serving
here. This march
not only honors our
son, but also the
sons and daughters
of so many other
families, and it’s
a good feeling
knowing that they
are still being
remembered.”
For the servicemembers,
the 26 mile ruck is not an
easy event. Foot powder,
band aids, and a fresh dry
pair of socks quickly become
necessities. But while their
torn and sore feet will heal,
the painful memories of their
fallen friends still linger.
MacArthur said “the hardest
part as a participant is
probably a tie between
picking up that rucksack
and putting it back on at
the rest halt each time, with
those sore feet and just
getting back out there and
continuing to walk, and then
the recovery process after.
People’s backs, shoulders
and feet get torn up, and it
takes some time to recover.
The blisters and pain that
you feel for the week or two
after the event, though, that
pales in comparison to what
these family members deal
with on a daily basis. For two
weeks of pain, I can endure
and I can put that rucksack
back on, and I can keep on
walking, for them. These
guys would rather be here
doing this, then where they
are right now.”
This year, Dostie’s
granddaughter walked the
entire last two miles. She is
six, and has never met the
uncle she marches for, but
she has been doing it every
year. Her family is proud to
share the memories of “Uncle
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