http://spotted.staugustine.com/galleries/index.php?id=318748

I remember speeding down that road countless times in Bryan’s white Camaro as we cut through the Hospital lots to get to the beach from US 1.  

Here’s a scan of the invite a few of us gratefully received:

Although I’m not personally able to attend the ceremony, it was very touching to be thought of.  Anyone who may have been there, feel free to post comments and pics.

A brief new story about the naming:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=111277&catid=3

You were a good man, and a good friend, and we really do miss the hell out of you. Godspeed, Bryan. Save us a seat, wherever you are.

Love,

Your Friends

Funeral Services

Fri.
January 4, 2008
, 1:00 PM

at

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Click for Map and Directions

Visitation

Thu.
January 3, 2008
, 5-7 PM

at

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Click for Map and Directions

So long as we love, we serve; so long as we are loved by others I would say that we are indispensable; and no man is useless while he has a friend. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Tonight we pay tribute to three family men who recently died in Iraq while serving in the U.S. Army. Together, they leave behind three wives and four children, as well as many other grieving family members, friends, and colleagues.

On Friday, the Department of Defense announced the death of Sergeant Bryan J. Tutten, a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom: “Sgt. Bryan J. Tutten, 33, of St. Augustine, Fla., died Dec. 25 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.”

Born in Baptist Hospital, Jacksonville, Tutten was a St. Augustine native because “I brought him right back here the next day,” says his mother. An only child, he was embraced by a large and loving family, which grew larger when he married Constandina Peterson.

His late father, Tom, was well known in St. Augustine as a folk singer and guitarist. He lost his life at age 50 in 2001 when he drowned in the ocean after coming to the aid of children who had lost an inflatable raft on Vilano Beach.

Family was always important to Bryan, says his mother. He particularly enjoyed helping his great-aunt, M.K. Murphy, who leads each year’s Easter parade on horseback.

When he was in town at Easter, Bryan and his wife “walked with her the whole parade to make sure she was all right,” his mother recalled.

Funeral arrangements are still pending. A service with full military honors will be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Burial will be in San Lorenzo Cemetery.

We were all hanging out at his apartment on the beach. It was Bryan, Casey, Kenzo, Doug, Greg and me, and we were watching Ren and Stimpy cartoons and generally goofing off. At the time, Bryan had quite a healthy appreciation for a tasty frothy brew, and we were all imbibing quite a bit that evening. There are only a few times I can remember laughing so hard as I did that night. Ken and Doug were fighting each other with the coat rack, trying to fit it into the oven, and someone (and I can’t remember who) ate half of a can of cat food on a frozen pizza.

The funniest moment, by far, came when Bryan tossed open the fridge and grabbed a bottle of soy sauce (you can probably see where this is going). Dumping about half of the sauce into his open beer bottle, he lifted it up to the sky and said, “JAPANESE BEER!” He took a deep swig, looked around at us with a mouthful, and immediately ran outside to spit it out!

~Jeremy~