Celebrating the Life of COL James Moore ’80

I had the pleasure of attending Reunion Weekend. It was such an honor to attend events with the Class of 1980 grads who were celebrating their 45th reunion. My late husband, COL James Moore, was a member of the Class of ’80 and over the past 20 years, when our children and I have traveled back for reunions or for the annual scholarship event, the staff at Norwich and his classmates have always made us feel so very welcome.

Whenever we visit NU, we make our way to the Norwich University Cemetery where Jim is buried. At the recent reunion after the football game and before the class dinner, we made our way up to the cemetery. As we gathered around Jim’s headstone, we proceeded to raise beers in a toast to him. I know that Jim would have approved. It was such a special and powerful moment. There have been many such moments shared around Jim’s headstone over the years, and I’ve not been in attendance at all of them. Classmates, family, friends, those he has served with, and others, have made their way to visit him. It was the right decision to choose NU Cemetery as Jim’s final resting spot.

I’d like to share with you how everything aligned in the making of that decision. Twenty-one years ago, I was seated at my dining room table with my casualty assistance officer (CAO) days after Jim was killed and the decision had to be made on his final resting spot. I had two places as possible options and had not yet decided, when my CAO asked me if Norwich had a cemetery. I responded that I did not know, and at that moment, the phone rang, and my mom answered it, and she said to me, “Amy, it’s the president of Norwich University on the phone.” 

When I took the phone, President Schneider introduced himself and offered condolences on behalf of Norwich for the loss of Jim. He asked if there was anything he could do or Norwich could do as an institution, to please let him know. And at that point, I thanked him and asked him if Norwich had a cemetery, and he told me that they did indeed have a beautiful cemetery and would be honored to have Jim there. The timing of the phone call and the care and concern conveyed by President Schneider lead me to the decision of making NU Cemetery Jim’s final resting spot.

I want to close by sharing about the Norwich University Class of 1980 COL James Moore Memorial Scholarship which was “established in 2005 by the Class of 1980 and the Moore family with the support of Colonel Moore’s many friends. Scholarships are awarded to juniors in the Corps of Cadets who exhibit qualities of character and leadership.” It has proved to be such a fitting way to honor Jim’s memory. To date there have been twenty-four recipients of the scholarship. 

Jim was so very humble and this scholarship in his memory takes the focus away from him and lets the limelight shine each year on a young, fresh-faced and full of hope junior in the Corps of Cadets.

Norwich (Family) Forever,

Amy Beth Moore