02/01/2020 - Dark Tower - A tribute to Noonan
AO: Dark Tower
When: 02/01/2020
PAX:
Number of Pax: 111
Pax Names: Noonan,
DR Names:
Number of FNGS: 0
FNG Names:
QIC: Rusty
Introduction
Today was a very difficult day for the PAX of F3 Naperville. We lost a brother. We lost a friend. We lost a LEADER. Noonan was taken from this earth way too soon. But we, mere mortals, don’t get to choose the time when our Lord calls us home. That is why we, the men of F3, strive to live by the G3L… Noonan did…. Let him be an example for all of us as we move forward from this day… this loss….
Men from all over F3 Naperville and F3 Geneva arrived in the gloom early… many went for EC runs or rucks to honor Noonan…. But as the PAX gathered… Flags were planted and hugs were freely given. There was a solemnity in the chilly morning air…. These men gathered to honor their friend in the standard F3 tradition… A BEATDOWN!! While I knew there would be “on the fly” changes, I intended to make every man work hard to honor our fallen brother.
We began by circling up… Then we took a knee for a moment of silence…
Noonan comes from a strong Irish tradition, so I wanted to honor him with the following Irish poem:
Death Is Nothing At All
By Henry Scott-Holland
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, you are you,
And the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
Somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
We then prayed the Lord’s Prayer and got ready to work.
The disclaimer was given…. I am not a professional, I don’t know about your injuries or how to prevent them. You are here TODAY to honor Noonan… So push yourself like he did every day! But don’t hurt yourself… Modify if you have to.
Warm-O-Rama
Goof Balls x 20 IC
Motivators from 8 (Hearing our voices echo off the walls gave me chills!!)
After a quick Switzer, we all faced the flags as Mr. Miyagi removed and rolled one flag to symbolize the passing of our Brother.
Mosey to the Fieldhouse parking lot and circle up.
Hamstring Stretch x 15 IC
3-Way Chest Stretch x 10 (each way) High/Middle/Low
Mosey to the Stadium Track… collecting our coupons along the way.
The Thang
Thang 1 – DORA 75/100/150
75 Divebomber Merkins
100 Hindu Squats
150 LBCs
Pax 1 exercises
Pax 2 Runs to cones (about 50 yards) and does 10 Bobby Hurleys and runs back to relieve partner
Flip Flop and continue until all exercises are complete.
Thang 2 – Coupon Work (Noonan loved doing exercises with coupons or rucks)
25 Coupon Curls
25 Overhead Presses
Run 50 yards and back
Squats until the 6 is in.
Thang 3
Running the Stadium Stairs (Noonan loved to RUCK the stadium stairs)
Continue up and down until time is called…
TBD later announced that the F3 Exicon has been updated…. Rucking Stadium stairs will forever be known as Noonans!! – Thank you TBD and Appletini for making this happen!!
Mosey back to flags to meet Noonan’s family and CoT
Circle of Trust
As we moseyed to the flags, I hung back to talk with a few men…. As I approached the flags I was greeted with one AMAZING sight…. 100+ men on one knee facing the flags and Noonan’s family. As the family approached, I asked Luke, Noonan’s youngest son, to plant (Noonan’s) Dark Tower flag beside all the other flags…. (I don’t know about you, but I got pretty choked up watching this)
CoT began with another Irish Poem:
Remembered Joy
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free!
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all…
I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss…
Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.
My life’s been full, I’ve savoured much:
Good times, good friends,
A loved-one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief –
Don’t shorten yours with undue grief.
Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.
This was followed by two Scripture passages:
Revelations 21:4 – He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
John 14:1-7 – Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know that way where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me.”
Next Roach Coach shared some wonderful words about the POWER of F3 and F3 Naperville. About the impact that Noonan had on the lives of every man in our circle. And that Noonan’s legacy is for each and every one of us to continue to LEAD… Continue to ACCELERATE!
To finish our CoT, we formed our circle around the Keough family….
Dear Lord, we thank you for bringing these men together today to honor our friend and brother, Noonan. We pray for our brother, Noonan and his family – Jenny, Sean, Kelly, Joe, Luke and Lucky. May they, and we, all find peace as we cope with the loss of such a wonderful man. Please wrap Noonan in your loving embrace as You welcome him home. Give us the strength to continue to journey out into the gloom to better ourselves for our families and our communities.
We pray all of this in Your Holy Name! Amen!
Rest in Peace, Noonan! We love you and we miss you!
Naked Man Moleskin
Brothers, our time on this rock is short… very short… CHERISH every moment. Live life to the fullest!
Until next time…. Rusty out!!
I am reading this in a store, with tears, while my wife shops. I am sorry I couldn’t be there with you all.
Rest In Peace, Noonan. I will miss you.
Very nicely done today Rusty! Noonan was a true HIM and will be missed dearly!