Jasmine's Birthday Potluck and Fundraiser for Fallen Forest Rangers

Friday, July 15th, is Jasmine’s birthday. Though we will all miss her on this special day, we will use it as a wonderful opportunity to honor her memory with a beautiful gesture. When we all felt unrelenting despair at the news of Jasmine’s passing, we survived because of the incalculable strength offered so generously from our loved ones near and far. Now it is time to share this strength with others experiencing the devastation of a fire. Every year on Jasmine’s birthday, we will offer support to a family who lost a loved one who was fighting to protect others from fires. This year, we are donating to the memorial funds of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton, two forest rangers who lost their lives while fighting the Blue Ribbon Fire in Hamilton County, Florida on June 20th, 2011.

Burch, 31, was a Forest Ranger who lived in Lake City with his wife and two children. He worked with the Division of Forestry for more than ten years. Fulton, 52, began as a professional welder with the Division twelve years ago. He has been a Forest Ranger with the Department for more than nine years. Fulton leaves behind a wife and two grown children in White Springs.

On Saturday, July 16th from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, please bring a dish and join Jasmine’s family at PGA National Park for a potluck picnic to celebrate Jasmine’s life and share our strength with others who need it now. We will be collecting donations for the families of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton, and Jasmine’s Fire Safety Memorial Fund will match the donations up to $500.00 and send them to the two memorial funds. A crape myrtle tree will be planted in the park in Jasmine’s memory.

Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun: Pastor Howard Thomas says a prayer during a memorial service for Brett Fulton and Josh Burch in Lake City, Fla., on Wednesday, June 22, 2011.

Soon, we will be posting information on how to donate in advance for those who cannot attend. If you would like to offer support in words, the Department’s Division of Forestry is accepting letters of condolence on behalf of the families of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton. Please mail correspondence to:

Family of Josh Burch or Family of Brett Fulton
c/o Director Jim Karels, Division of Forestry
3125 Conner Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Your words gave us strength when we needed it, and expressing our gratitude for Burch and Fulton’s dedication and sacrifice to fire safety is a beautiful way to share strength with their families.

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