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This undated photo provided by the National Guard of Utah shows Major Brent Taylor of the Utah National Guard. Taylor, former Mayor of North Ogden, died in Afghanistan on Saturday, November 3, 2018, said Councilman Phillip Swanson. Taylor was deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Utah National Guard for a period of work supposed to be 12 months. Taylor has previously served twice in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. (Courtesy of the National Guard of Utah via AP) (Associated Press)
OGDEN, Utah – A Utah mayor killed while serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan "loved the people of Afghanistan" and was a man of conviction, trust and compassion, said their families and officials soldiers at public funeral held on Saturday.
Brent Taylor, 39, was a deeply patriotic man who had pledged to train commandos as part of an effort to build the capacity of the Afghan National Army, said the Major General of the Utah Army National Guard, Jefferson Burton, at a ceremony held in the Ogden City Events Center, north of the city. # 39; Utah.
Taylor was killed on Nov. 3 during an attack by one of the Afghan commandos that he was training, military officials said.
"He was totally committed to doing this job," Burton said. "He really loved the Afghan people and wanted to help him so that he could develop himself and allow his country to defend itself alone."
Taylor's coffin was draped with an American flag and was sitting in front of a scene where his father, a local leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was leading the offices.
The choir sang "America the Beautiful" as the opening hymn and "Born to be Soldier" to close the focus for the service to focus on Taylor's love and his commitment to sacrifice himself.
His wife, Jennie, did not speak, but has already said that his family felt "a pain but no regret" because Taylor was trying to free others.
In addition to his wife, Taylor leaves behind seven children aged 11 months to 13 years.
The memorial service crowned several days of events to honor Taylor.
Hundreds of soldiers on Wednesday greeted Taylor's flag-covered coffin, while her remains were returned to a National Guard base in Salt Lake City. A hundred bikers carrying American flags followed the hearse north of Taylor's hometown, Ogden, in procession.
On Friday, a member of the National Guard watched his coffin during a night vigil in a morgue.
Taylor had taken a yearlong leave as mayor of North Ogden for his second tour of Afghanistan. Taylor, a military intelligence officer at Joint Force Headquarters, also carried out two missions to Iraq.
His younger brother, Derek Taylor, said that Brent had the gift of filling gaps and finding solutions to divergent opinions – a talent he's developed at home, where disputes and disagreements are common. He added that his brother was still putting off their phone conversations with "Love you, Derek".
He said his brother had the blessing of "three Cs" – commitment, trust and compassion – and that these were the driving force behind everything he had accomplished.
"As a brother, Brent has been as good as they come," said Derek Taylor. "He was the best of us all."
Toby Mileski, a friend and former mayor of Pleasant View, a nearby town in North Ogden, has remembered Taylor for his love of the meal, his penchant for lateness and his sense of humor.
"We have always laughed – always – and that's something I will really miss," Mileski said, adding later: "Jennie, children, your father was a warrior, a patriot and a great person. I am honored and blessed to have been able to call my best friend. "
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.
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