Wilderness Walk takes place July 16

By Chris Robinson
Wilderness Walk for Warriors founder

MONSON — Wilderness Walk for Warriors’ 2016 “Flags of Honor Hike” commences on the morning of July 16. As the 20-member team begins its third annual hike through the 100-Mile Wilderness.

This in order to raise money for veterans and servicemembers as well as honor our fallen heroes. The day’s events kick off at 11 a.m. in Bangor just outside the gate of the Maine Army National Guard Base. The Wilderness Walk for Warriors team will join the Patriot Riders of America in a motorcycle escort to the Monson Community Center. The Maine State Police will lead out the escort and the team will be transported in two Humvees and a deuce and a half troop transport, compliments of Downeast Emergency Management Institute.

We are expecting as many as 200 bikes and vehicles in the convoy. Once in Monson, there will be a singing of our national anthem, a brief speech from State Rep. Joyce Maker (R-Calais) and an introduction of the team. This will be immediately followed with a celebratory barbeque for all by Monson American Legion Post 116 and Greenville Post 94.

After the barbecue and celebration, the team will put on their packs and march to the Appalachian Trailhead. Each team member will be carrying a hiking staff and attached to that staff will be a “Flag of Honor.” Various flags will include those for P.O.W./M.I.A., K.I.A., Honor and Remember, American Legion, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and multiple American flags.

Each team member will carry their “Flag of Honor” from Monson to the top of Mt. Katahdin for a total of 120 miles over 10 days. Each team member will also carry everything they need to survive for those days on their shoulders as there will be no opportunity to re-supply through the 100-Mile Wilderness.

My brother and I will also be carrying additional items to honor two Maine State Police officers who died in the line of duty. Tim Robinson, co-founder of Wilderness Walk for Warriors will carry the Maine State Police Flag 326 in honor of Trooper Jeffery Parola. I will have the honor of attaching to my pack the Maine State Police license plate 616 on behalf of Trooper Glenn Strange of Houlton.

On the morning of July 26 the Wilderness Walk for Warriors team will end their 2016 “Flags of Honor Hike” by hiking from Katahdin Stream Campground to the peak of Mt. Katahdin. Once at the top, photographer Paul Cyr will fly over to photograph the team holding their Flags of Honor.

The 2016 Wilderness Walk for Warriors team is a group of 20 individuals who are dedicating 10 days of their summer to assist veterans and servicemembers as well as honor our fallen heroes.

I am very proud to be able to say that this year’s team includes two ladies, a professional reporter/photographer, as well as a four-man unit from the Canadian Armed Forces. Twenty diverse individuals unified by a common goal.

Each of the team members will be raising pledges on a flat or miles hiked basis. All money earned will go directly out to assist veterans and servicemembers. Please stop by our Facebook page and check us out.