KENNEBUNK  — A group of volunteers Saturday carried some special cargo nearly two miles down U.S. Route 1, their presence a walking tribute to heroes who sacrificed their lives for our country.

The Summit Project is a living memorial that honors fallen service members from Maine. Families of fallen military members select a stone of special significance to their loved one and donate it to the project. The memorial stones are engraved with the names of the military heroes and taken on tribute treks to mountain summits in Maine, and to places across the country and beyond. After the trek is completed, the person who carried the stone writes a letter to the family of the fallen hero.

A select group of these stones are currently on display at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 4 Industrial Drive, and Saturday morning a group walked from the Kennebunk Free Library to ReStore, carrying the memorial stones.

A ceremony was held outside the store before the memorial stones were taken inside and placed in the “Honor Case” for display.

Greg Johnson, executive director of the Summit Project, thanked those who participated and who helped the organization to keep its promise to the families that their loved ones will never be forgotten.

Kim Hamlyn, secretary of the Patriot Riders of America Maine Chapter One, carried the memorial stone for Navy Petty Officer 1 Bryan Hobart of Scarborough, who died Sept. 11, 2015. Hamlyn said carrying the stone meant a lot to her, as she has a son who served in Afghanistan. She said carrying the stone reminds her of how grateful she is to have her son and how much other people have sacrificed.

”It’s very eye opening,” she said.

Patriot Riders Member of America Chapter 1 Member Arthur Rocray said he was proud to have carried the memorial stone of Navy Petty Officer 2 Benjamin Demers of Auburn, who died Sept. 18, 2016.

“This is very little, what we’ve done now, compared to what he did,” said Rocray.

Jeff Haley carried the memorial stone for Army Captain Christopher Cash of Old Orchard Beach, who died while serving in Iraq on June 24, 2004. Haley said his brother had served in Cash’s unit.

“I get weepy in my old age,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. He said it was sad to think of the sacrifices people have made and how hard it was for the families.

Nancy and Bob Kelley, Cash’s parents, were at Saturday’s event and spoke with Haley after the ceremony.

“This is very special,” said Nancy, reflecting on Saturday’s ceremony and the Summit Project. She said the rock that she chose for her son was from Veterans Memorial Park, in Old Orchard Beach, where a tree is planted in his honor. She said the stone has a marbled pattern, like the rocks she used to pick up at the beach with her children when they were young.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].