Items Stolen from a Firefighters Grave, Family Asks for Return

Matt Black, weeks before his 21st birthday, and days before of his first anniversary as a volunteer firefighter, was killed in the line of duty on June 23, 1999. He was electrocuted by a downed power line while fighting a fire with the other members of his department in Lakeport, California. His parents recently discovered the defacement of his grave, including the missing brass plaque from his headstone, during a visit to their son’s grave site, according to a report from the Lake County News.

Black’s mother, Jo Ann Gettman, and father, Gerry Gettman are asking the community for help in finding who is responsible for this incident. Mrs. Gettman was quoted to say in the report, It’s just really sad that someone is so disrespectful to do that,” and continued as the article explained “vandalizing a grave hurts all the people who love the person buried there, adding it’s been devastating to her, her husband, her other son – a Santa Rose firefighter – and Black’s friends.”

The Gettmans stated that if the responsible party is willing to return the items to the family, the cemetery or to the Lakeport Fire Department, no questions will be asked.

Please contact Jo Ann Gettman with any information concerning this incident at 707-263-3956 or gett17jo@mchsi.com.

Read more about this story HERE.

Photo by Elizabeth Larson / Lake County News

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