Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Sergeant First Class Brent R. Dewitt, US Army, Ret.





Brent Dewitt was born June 16, 1964 at Yuma, Arizona and passed away on May 26, 2011 at Harker Heights, Texas, at the age of 46.

Brent entered the United States Army in 1984 and proudly served his country for twenty years, retiring in 2004. He then worked for Symbolic Systems as a data systems analyst.

An Inurnment service, with full military honors, was held on June 6, 2011 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter in honor of this fallen veteran.

The religious portion of the service was led by Lt. Col. Lane Stockeland of the United States Army Chaplain Corps. Chaplain Stockeland read from the book of John, Chapter 14:

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

He then led the gathered family and friends in The Lord's Prayer.

Two of Brent's friends spoke of their love and friendship, and one of the two sang, for Brent, the always mournful "Amazing Grace".

The United States Army Honor Guard then rendered full military honors. The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The Army bugler, standing in the shade of the live Oak trees, played taps, as all in attendance stood at attention.

The Honor guard then carefully unfolded the American flag that rested next to Brent's cremains and carefully refolded it into the traditional triangle. The flag was passed to a Non-Commissioned Officer, who presented it to Brent's dear wife, Tammy, on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army and a grateful nation, as thanks for his many years of faithful service.

Tammy, accompanied by family, then placed the urn containing Brent's cremains into a niche of the columbarium wall, to be sealed for all eternity, as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above in honor of SFC Brent R. Dewitt.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, two sons, one daughter, his mother, three sisters, three grandchildren and numerous other dear family, co-workers and fellow soldiers.


When I'm Gone


When I come to the end
of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can,
That I ever frowned
And remember only the smile.
Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done.
Forget that I ever had a heartache
And remember I've had loads of fun.
Forget that I have stumbled
and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought
some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day,
Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer
just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay,
And come in the evening
When the sun paints
the sky in the west,
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.

-author unknown-



With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.

9 comments:

  1. ..friends and family here in Germany
    share the grief wholeheartedly.
    He was a great father, husband, friend.
    We will keep him in our hearts forever.

    Andrea with Brandon

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brent,

    You were my AWESOME little bro, and my hero!! You helped me more than you will ever know.
    I miss you and love you so much!!

    Until I see you again,
    Your loving big sissy - Tami

    ReplyDelete
  3. Uncle Brent,

    I have so many great memories of my childhood with you doing so many fun and kooky things. You were such an amazging Uncle. I remember being so excited as a kid that you and Uncle Danny would be coming to visit that I couldnt sleep the night before. You both were more exciting than Disneyland haha I love you and miss you so much!!

    Until we meet again,
    Love Britni

    ReplyDelete
  4. Uncle Brent,
    I miss you so much! I remember you calling at dinner and talking in a masked vigilante voice, "Hello?" and I responded, "Hi, Uncle Brent." You gasped, like you were offended, "This is not Brent! This is BATMAN!!! Am I speaking to Robin?"


    That was one of my favorite conversations. I don't know how I'm going to handle no more phone calls from Batman. Life will be very dull without my imitator of an uncle.

    Until we meet again.
    Love,
    Angie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear God,Take my brother who was mentally wounded in life & could not find his way back the & forgive him for what he has done. Please take him in your arms & let him see the beauty that you are. there he will be with his twin brother brian, his brother Danny, his dad Jack &his grandparents & most of all you, he will be at peace now. I love & miss you Brent. I`ll see you in heaven. Heather

    ReplyDelete
  6. Brent,

    It's your BIRRTHHDAAAY!!
    Have a beer on me!

    Well I have to say its been EXTREMELY hard on all of us ESPECIALLY your wife. We are still struggling to makes sense of this and cannot find the answer. I hope and pray you have found the answer and you can send some peace into our soles. May we then see the light.
    I love you, Sissy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Too my brother-n-law Brent. I hope you can find some peace now where you could not find it here in your last days on earth. My sister, the love of your life misses the love of her life. We will try to ease her pain here as you will be her gaurdian angel. I don't know if she will or any of us will ever understand what you were going through. But we will remember the kind, caring, friendly, and hard working man that you were here on earth. Thank you for making so many wonderful memories with my sister that she now has to hold on to and cheerish for the rest of her time. We love you bro! Rest in peace and thank you for what you had to do to protect this country! You are truly a fallen solider. We will never forget you! We love you.<3

    ReplyDelete
  8. A Butterfly ~
    lights beside us like a sunbeam and for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to the world but then it flies again and though we wish it could of stayed we feel luchy to have seen it..

    Love & Miss you - Tami

    ReplyDelete
  9. My dearest husband I miss you and love you so,my heart aches for you,until we meet again my love.

    ReplyDelete