A mayor of Utah killed in Afghanistan: a widow says her body "comes home" well on election day


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After the dignified transfer in which Jennie Taylor and their two eldest sons hosted Major Brent Taylor's body on American soil, the widow traveled to Camden, where she addressed reporters.

"To say that our hearts are less than broken would be nothing less than real deception," she said. "Yet to deny the sacred honor that standing so close to the fresh blood that was shed for our country would be an absolute blasphemy."

Brent Taylor died for freedom and democracy, not only in the United States – but also in Afghanistan, she said.

Afghan urns in America

About two weeks ago, the eve of the parliamentary elections in Afghanistan was to be held for the first time in eight years – what her husband, 15 years later, calls "magnificent" – a 22-year-old freshly trained lieutenant killed, said Jennie Taylor. Her husband regarded the young Afghan soldier as a valuable friend, she explained.

She recalled her husband's message a week after the elections: "The strong participation in this election, despite the attacks and the challenges, has been a success for the long-suffering Afghan people, and for the cause of freedom. I am proud of the brave Afghan and American soldiers with whom I serve, and many American, NATO and Afghan soldiers have died to make things like this possible. "

Jennie Taylor noted that, in view of her husband's feelings towards democracy, it was "entirely appropriate" that his body was returned to the United States in a flag-draped coffin on the day of his death. ballot.

"It's a timeless and precious honor to serve in the armed forces of our country," she said. "This honor has been in Brent since he's served in the Utah National Guard for the past 15 years, and he's been to me for as long as I'm proudly alongside him."

What Major Taylor wanted for America

It will also be the honor of their seven children, and she prays, the honor of their children – "for many generations to come," she said.

"The price of freedom is surely incredibly high for all those of us who know and love our soldier, but the value of freedom is immeasurable for all who know and love America," he said. Jennie Taylor.

It was his second tour in Afghanistan

The Pentagon has confirmed the death of Brent Taylor Sunday. A member of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces shot Taylor before the shooter was quickly killed by Afghan forces, according to the NATO-led Resolute Support Coalition.

Another member of the armed forces was injured during Saturday's attack and was placed in stable condition after being treated during the weekend.

Taylor was mayor of North Ogden, Utah, about 45 km north of Salt Lake City, since 2013. He temporarily left his mayoral position to deploy in Afghanistan with the National Guard, according to his biography on North's website. Ogden.

He served for 12 years as an officer in the National Guard of the Army, including seven on active duty. Taylor has also served several times in Iraq and Afghanistan. The graduate from Brigham Young University left in January for his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

"Brent has had a profound influence on this community," said Phillip Swanson, North Ogden City Councilor. "He was the best of men, able to see the potential and the possibility of everything around him."

A last call to the Americans

A report released this week by the US government's own mediator of war explained how the Taliban had tightened their grip on Afghanistan, controlling more territory than at any time since 2001. In September, nearly 2,800 Afghans were killed in 2018.

On October 28, in his latest message on Facebook, Taylor applauded the millions of Afghans who challenged the Taliban's threats and went to the polls, calling it a success for a war-weary people.

Quoting the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, "The secret of happiness is freedom … And the secret of freedom is courage," he said. His "dear friend", the 22-year-old Afghan lieutenant, was among those making the ultimate sacrifice "to make moments like this possible."

"As the United States prepares to vote in our own election next week," he said in conclusion, "I hope that all Russian deputies will exercise their precious right to vote. Republicans or Democrats take it, have many more Americans who unite us than we divide. "United we are, divided we fall." God bless America. "

He signed his last message with the American flag and fist emojis.

CNN's Doug Criss, Laura Smith-Spark, Brandon Griggs, Christina Maxouris and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.

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