Richard Joyce

West Point, 2002

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Dad on September 14, 2003:

Remarks Delivered by Jay Joyce at the Memorial Service for his Son, Rick United Church of Christ, Norwich, NY 11 September 2003 Thank you for being with us here tonight to celebrate Rick?s life. Although we must grieve, we don?t come to mourn, we come to remember. We don?t come to mourn, we come to celebrate. ?For us to live, is to believe?in Jesus the Christ, and in the One Who sent Him.? Over the years I have tried to lay out the principles for living my life. In so many ways, Rick exemplified each of these. I call these??an ?F? in every subject- A Report Card for Successful Living.? FAITH For us, Faith means having a strong belief in God, and living that faith in all we do. When he went through Ranger School, Rick carried with him a reading from Romans 5:3-4, ??we also rejoice in our suffering, for we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.? And now our faith and our suffering helps to build our perseverance, character and hope for the future. Rick was active in his Faith, and lived it as a Scout and Cadet. He had the opportunity in High School to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference, and for four years he sang in the Cadet Catholic Choir at West Point. FAMILY Can you tell how much we loved each other? We did so many things together as family. One that stands out was visiting West Point the year before Rick entered, and together we ran in the West Point 10K. Rick and I placed Second in the Family Team division. Christy and Rick shared a love for each other as brother and sister that exceeds anything I have ever known among siblings. And we?re happy to consider Kerry as the newest member of our family. There are many families represented here, including not only Shirley, Christy, Kerry and me, but also this family of faith, this community family, and the Army family, which has been so supportive over the past week. Faith and family are what will pull us through this. FITNESS Fitness means taking care of the body, mind and soul that God has given us. Many of you know how much I like to run. I?m counting on my running to help me get through these next few days and weeks. If you see me, honk your horn or wave ? it really helps. Rick and I ran many miles together here in Norwich and elsewhere. We ran his first race together when he was 9 years old ? the longest mile he ever ran ? and he took home the first place trophy in his age group. And his final summer here in Norwich we ran the Utica Boilermaker 15K together with Dr. Tom Holmes. Fitness also means Spiritual Fitness, Mental Fitness, and Moral Fitness, and Rick had all three. As an Eagle Scout and member of the Boy Scout Order of the Arrow, Rick truly was physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. FORTUNE Fortune means how we use our God-given resources of Time, Talent and Treasure both to earn a living and to contribute back to society, consistent with our Faith, and consistent with our love of Family. For those who have graduated from West Point, it means living our Faith and love of Family in keeping with the ideals of Duty, Honor and Country. Rick?s Eagle project involved raising funds for and installing the benches you see at the Holy Family playground ? made of recyclable materials to show a greater respect for Mother Nature. In the few brief months that Rick served with the 1st Battalion 77th Armored Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) he impressed many, and earned honors usually reserved for more senior Lieutenants. And tonight we say a special prayer for the men of the Steel Tigers, that God will bring them home safely to their families in the weeks and months ahead. FUN Finally Fun?and not last, but weaving its way constantly through Faith, Family, Fitness & Fortune ? finding fun ways to live all of these? and Rick did. He skied, went SCUBA diving, and jumped out of airplanes. He traveled through Chile, Germany and Italy. He hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back in one day, and spent a Spring Break in Mexico. Music and the stage were a big part of his life. Rick was just as at home in a concert hall with the Dave Mathews Band as he was with the Boston Pops. He appeared on stage in productions of West Side Story and Tommy, and he loved visiting Broadway. People are often surprised to find out that I?m not really into camping and roughing it in the great outdoors, and then they hear my speech that ?I was cold, wet & miserable when I was paid to be cold, wet and miserable, and swore I?d never be cold, wet & miserable for fun!? But Rick loved the outdoors and could cook a 3-course meal over an open fire. He and I had a fantastic time last summer hiking the Appalachian Trail, including the time I fell flat on my face and his biggest fear was what he was going to tell Mom! And then there was always his smile? When you ask yourselves, ?How is Jay standing up there and saying these things?? or ?How will Jay & Shirley & Christy get through this??, the answer is at the same time both very simple, and very complicated. Our faith in God, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, together with the overwhelming love of family and friends all around us help us to know that Rick is in a better place. Shirley and I thank you tonight for celebrating Rick?s memory, and we thank God for the chance to have shared our lives with his. And Rick, He will raise you up on Eagle?s wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun, And hold you?hold you in the palm of His hand.?

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