Thursday, August 10, 2017

8/10/17 Memorial Concluded

The memorial has concluded and posting to this blog has ended.  While there will be no new posts, the blog will remain visible to allow you to access the donation information in support of the families.

Thank you

The Memorial Staff

8/10/17 Brent M. Witham Memorial Livestream

Click the link below for the raw video -- an edited version of today's memorial will be uploaded at a later time.

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

8/9/2017 Witham Memorial Update

WITHAM MEMORIAL CEREMONY
USDA Forest Service · 602 S Tippecanoe · San Bernardino · CA · 92408


August 9, 2017, 8:00 p.m., San Bernardino, CA - The Witham Memorial Ceremony, honoring fallen firefighter Brent Witham, Vista Grande Hotshot, is scheduled to take place on August 10th at the National Orange Show, Orange Pavilion, Arrowhead entrance, San Bernardino, CA 92408.  The memorial service will begin at 10:00 am and doors will open at 9:00 am. Anyone who would like to attend is welcome.


The program for the Memorial Ceremony will available at 7:00 am on Thursday, August 10th on the Witham Memorial Ceremony blog:  www.withammemorialceremony.blogspot.com (click on the downloadable link to view or print).  Although updates to the blog will end tomorrow (8/10/17), the blog will remain available for viewing.


Condolence messages may still continue to be emailed to:  www.withammemorialinfo@gmail.com with the word “CONDOLENCES” typed in the subject line of the message.  These messages will be given to the family.


For those of you who are not able to attend the memorial in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed and can be viewed by accessing:  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cal-fire-tv.  The stream will be available a few minutes before 10:00 am Pacific Time.


In response to the many inquiries from people who wish to make monetary donations, in lieu of flowers, the family has asked that we provide the following information:


  • Make check out to Mark Witham
  • In the memo section of the check, please write:  “In Trust For the Brent Witham Trust Fund”
Mail the check (no cash please) to:  Brent Witham Memorial Fund, ℅ Chief Costello, 11629 Grove Drive, Yucaipa, CA  92399 or to Community Bank, ATTENTION:  Brent Witham Memorial Fund, PO Box 3188, Redlands, CA  92373

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

8/8/2017 Witham Memorial Update

WITHAM MEMORIAL CEREMONY

USDA Forest Service · 602 S Tippecanoe · San Bernardino · CA · 92408


August 8, 2017, 8:00 p.m., San Bernardino, CA - The Witham Memorial Ceremony, honoring fallen firefighter Brent Witham, Vista Grande Hotshot, is scheduled to take place on August 10th at the National Orange Show, Orange Pavilion, Arrowhead entrance, San Bernardino, CA 92408.  The memorial service will begin at 10:00 am and doors will open at 9:00 am. Anyone who would like to attend is welcome.


The program for the memorial is being finalized and a link to download it, in its entirety, will be posted on the Witham Memorial Ceremony blog:  www.withammemorialceremony.blogspot.com.  Please visit the blog frequently, as it is being updated regularly throughout the day.


Condolence messages may be emailed to:  www.withammemorialinfo@gmail.com with the word “CONDOLENCES” typed in the subject line of the message.  These messages will be given to the family.


For those of you who are not able to attend the memorial in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed and can be viewed by accessing:  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cal-fire-tv.  The stream will be available a few minutes before 10:00 am Pacific Time.


Donations may be made to the Brent Witham Memorial Fund as follows:
  • A check should be made out to Mark Witham
  • In the memo section of the check, please write:  “In Trust For the Brent Witham Trust Fund”
  • Mail the check (no cash please) to:  Brent Witham Memorial Fund, ℅ Chief Costello, 11629 Grove Drive, Yucaipa, CA  92399


As the tribute to Brent continues, through Wednesday evening, we still have two large condolence “cards” at the San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor’s Office, located at 602 S. Tippecanoe Avenue in San Bernardino, California 92408.  The cards are available for messages and/or condolences for Brent’s family and cards will be given to the family as a keepsake and remembrance of Brent.  

8/8/17 Condolence Card

If you would like to leave a condolence message to Brent's family, there has been a "Condolence" card set up in the lobby of the San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor's Office at
602 S Tippecanoe Avenue
San Bernardino
Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..

The cards will be moved to the Memorial Ceremony on Thursday and be available for signature there.

If unable to sign or attend in person, and still wish to send condolences please visit the Condolence tab.

Monday, August 7, 2017

8/7/2017 Memorial Update

WITHAM MEMORIAL CEREMONY

USDA Forest Service · 602 S Tippecanoe · San Bernardino · CA · 92408


August 7, 2017, 7:00 p.m., San Bernardino, CA - The body of Brent Witham was returned home to San Bernardino, California today. Brent died in the line of duty while engaged in firefighting efforts in
Montana on August 2nd, on the Lolo Peak Fire. He was transported with honor, officially escorted the entire way home by Forest Service Law Enforcement and Honor Guard.  

Brent was taken from the mortuary in Missoula, Montana to the Aerial Fire Depot where his Forest Service comrades escorted him aboard a Forest Service Sherpa aircraft, which flew him to the San Bernardino air tanker base. He was met there by his family, his crew, leadership from the San Bernardino National Forest and representatives of many other agencies wishing to honor him. He was then taken to the Montecito Memorial Park & Cemetery in a processional that stretched nearly a mile long with more than 50 vehicles participating.

Behind the hearse were members of his family, friends, the Vista Grande Hotshot crew, and many, many firefighting engines and emergency vehicles representing numerous agencies from surrounding cities and counties.  At several locations along the route, agency personnel and members of the community gathered along the route to pay special tribute; there was an especially large contingent of uniformed personnel and engines in front of the San Bernardino National Forest Headquarters.

As the procession reached the entrance to the Montecito Memorial Park & Cemetary, it passed under a large United States flag suspended high in the air by two fire department ladder trucks. Firefighters saluted their brother, Brent, as the motorcade entered the gates of the park.

The tribute to Brent continues into the week:  two large condolence “cards”  will be made available at the San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor’s Office, located at 602 S. Tippecanoe Avenue in San Bernardino, California, 92408, beginning at noon on August 8th through the evening of August 9th. People are encouraged to stop by and write messages and/or condolences for the family.  The cards will then be given to Brent’s family as a keepsake and remembrance of Brent.  Cards may also be mailed to the address listed above.  Emails with “CONDOLENCES” typed in the “subject” line may be sent to withammemorialinfo@gmail.com.
The following blog has been established:  www.withammemorialceremony.blogspot.com and we encourage you to access the blog frequently, since it is being updated regularly throughout the day.

The memorial service for Brent Witham is scheduled for Thursday, August 10th at the National Orange Show, Orange Pavilion, Arrowhead entrance, San Bernardino, CA 92408.  Anyone who would like to attend is welcome.  The memorial will begin at 10:00 am and the doors will be open around 9:00 am.  If, for some reason, this information changes, an update will be posted on the blog.

A Memorial Fund is being set up for Brent for those who are interesting in making a monetary donation.  Specific information regarding this account will be provided soon.

8/7/2017 Updated Information Posted

As information becomes available, we will update each of the tabs above so check back frequently. Please check the Procession tab for updated information.There is a video of a portion of the procession in San Bernardino in front of the Supervisor's Office on the VIDEO tab.