Rick Stires was memorialized with the planting of a tree at Camp Zane Tuesday evening. Troop 128 gathered to plant the tree and remember Rick who was taken from us at the early age of 44. Recent Eagle Scout Bobby Corns did an excellent job honoring Rick in a letter he read at the tree planting ceremony. Here are parts of his letter:
Dear Rick,
I wish to say hello dear friend I’ve missed you. You may be gone now but I know that you’re off in Heaven fishing and camping like old times, or driving the yellow truck off to help someone else. People like you are few and far between and I was one of the lucky few that got to know you. In that time, you taught me and others many scouting things like how to cook on a fire, clean a knife, and how to camp.
You helped me when I needed someone, forgot tent stakes and you gave me some of yours. When I didn’t know how to drill or cook something you immediately dropped what you were doing and helped me.
I would not be an Eagle Scout without your help. I cannot thank you enough for the support, guidance, contributions, time, and help you gave me and this troop sometimes without being asked.
We are planting a tree this day as a token of our gratitude to you. A living memory of the great man you were. A plaque in your honor to remember you. The man who helped any scout or person, no matter the time or place. Rick, I hope to see you one day sitting around a fire, telling stories of the past and what the future holds. I hope you can hear our words and see our gratitude. Goodbye old friend, we’ve missed you. And may the great Scoutmaster of all scouts be with us until we meet again.
Bobby Corns, Troop 128
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