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.