Visiting Jimmy’s Bench

With Flowers in Hand, the Gauntt Family Visited Their Son’s Intact Memorial Bench After Brush Fire

We know that San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve has personal meanings to many. One family shares an exceptional story of reconnecting with their son’s Memorial Bench along Rios Avenue Trail that they hoped had not burned in the recent lagoon brush fire.

Above: Family members relax on Jimmy’s Bench, photo by Casey Gauntt

 Our executive director, Doug Gibson, had just taken photos of the burn site and the bench to share with the family the morning after the brush fire was extinguished. Moments later, Doug coincidentally met them on the trail. He knew this family was on a mission to see their bench. They had flowers. It was serendipitous to meet in person!

Above: Flowers for Jimmy, photo by Casey Gauntt

“Every inch of ground behind the bench and running up the hill was burned to a crisp. We could tell the firefighters had cleared a large circle around the bench of all vegetation,” shares Casey Gauntt in his blog post: Forever Fortunate. Forever in Gratitude.  

 Nature connects us. Nature heals us. Nature binds us as being: Forever Fortunate. Forever in Gratitude.