It’s been almost two months since Jon and James Herbert, sons of Top Fuel pilot Doug Herbert, lost their lives in an automobile accident on Jetton Road near their home in Cornelius, N.C. Since their passing, friends and family members have sought ways to heal and to keep the memory of these two special young men alive.

On Saturday, March 22, 2008, a special ceremony will take place at Jetton Park. Friends of the family have worked with park officials to dedicate a spot at the beach overlooking scenic Lake Norman to the memory of Jon and James. 

Rev. Jody Seymour of Davidson United Methodist Church and Jeff Tarte, mayor of Cornelius, will officiate the ceremony. Two benches, one in memoriam of Jon and one in memoriam of James, will offer a place for friends and family to sit and remember, reflect, and begin to heal.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for all the effort that went into planning this special spot for Jon and James,” said Herbert. “The boys loved the lake, and Jessie, James and I often road our bikes through the park and hung out on the beach. 

“Dedicating this spot at the beach, where anyone can go just to sit and get away and think about all the times Jon and James made us laugh, will help us keep them alive in our hearts.”

The ceremony, set on the beach at Jetton Park in the neighborhood where the boys lived, will take place at 10:00 a.m. The short ceremony will be casual and open to the public.

BRAKES is a safe driving foundation inspired by the loss of Doug Herbert’s two sons, Jon,17, and James,12, in a tragic automobile accident in January 2008. BRAKES (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe), the name chosen by Jon’s senior classmates at SouthLake Christian Academy, is dedicated to educating teen drivers on safe driving and to ultimately save lives. Put on the Brakes, the charitable foundation behind BRAKES, is a 501 (3)(c) organization. For more information, visit www.putonthebrakes.com.