A mayor of North Ogden killed in Afghanistan recognized as a "true patriot"

OGDEN – Major Brent R. Taylor, a Utah National Guard and Mayor of North Ogden, killed while deployed in Afghanistan, was motivated, persevering, engaged and fully engaged, according to his friends and colleagues who served with him.

"As a brother, Brent was as good as they come in. He was the best of us," said Capt. Derek Taylor, the youngest brother of Brent Taylor. "He was the best of us all."

Brent Taylor was celebrated and commemorated Saturday at a public burial at Dee Events Center at Weber State University. Thousands of people, including many local, state, national and military officials, were present.

"It's our responsibility to take responsibility and live as he lived," said Derek Taylor, adding that he did not understand "why Brent was killed, but I know that God loves his children.

"I know we can take this terrible tragedy and do it well in our life," he said.

Brent Taylor, 39, was killed in his fourth deployment, which began in January and was expected to last one year. He was shot dead during what military officials described as an insider attack at the Kabul military training center, when a member of the Afghan security forces opened fire on them.

He is survived by his wife, Jennie Taylor, and seven children aged 11 months to 13 years.

Jennie Taylor, who kept her cool until her husband's coffin arrived at the cemetery, was openly grateful for the public support for her husband and family. She did not speak during the service because other members of the extended family offered opening and closing prayers.

Brent Taylor's father, Stephen Taylor, saint bishop of the last days of a local congregation who led Saturday's service, said the family had always prayed for the safety and well-being of the family. army.

"We pray for peace, we ask military leaders and political leaders to come to peace – this is certainly the goal," he said. "It was the goal of Brent."

Major-General Jefferson S. Burton, Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard for which Brent Taylor served, stated that Taylor was a "great soldier" and a "true patriot."

"He was so involved that I do not know when he slept," Burton said. "He knew what he wanted to accomplish in life and he decided to do it."

Burton spoke of the cohesiveness of Brent Taylor and his wife, who made the decision to serve actively in multiple deployments.

"He really loved the Afghan people and wanted to help him so that he could strengthen himself," he said. "It was a real deal, committed to doing these tasks."

"I know for a fact that Brent did more than he had to do," Burton said.

Toby Mileski, a former friend and mayor of Pleasant View, told the family that Brent Taylor "had the incredible sense of doing the right thing for the right reason."

"He was a faithful and faithful friend," he said. "I could stay here and share stories all day, but it's time to move on."

Mileski assured Taylor's children: "your father was a warrior, a patriot and a great person."

"We will miss him all," he said.

Lawrence E. Corbridge of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the College of the Seventy, who was president of Jennie Taylor's mission to South America many years ago, said that Brent Taylor's life had a lot to teach us.

"Military service employees pay a very high price, especially when this service results in a deployment on foreign lands and even more so when this deployment is placed at the center of the fighting," said Brother Corbridge, adding that he was "sober by the sacrifice and love" of Brent Taylor, who gave his life for the causes of God, his family and his country.

For Brent Taylor, "service to one was service to all three," he said.

"More than the mayor, more than the soldier or the major, and even more than the father or the husband, Brent Russell Taylor was a follower of Jesus Christ, endowed with heavenly power, and that transcends everything else and makes it better, "said brother Corbridge.

Brent Taylor, a long-time member of the church, he said, "went through hell" and "was better for that", which offers a lesson to all – with the power of God ", it is possible to be Christian -The Christian circumstances, to overcome the horrors of life and even the sufferings of war."

"We are better because of him," said Elder Corbridge.

"His loss is bitter at the age of 39, but he has accomplished more than most," Burton said. "Brent was ready to meet his creator."

Brent Taylor was buried with all the military honors, including a gun salute, at Ben Lomond Cemetery, 526 E. 2850 North, North Ogden, where a smaller group of supporters gathered to remember him.

Community members, American flags and balloons were lined up along the path from the funeral procession to the cemetery.

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As usual, the flag covering the coffin of Brent Taylor was ceremoniously folded and presented to Jennie Taylor during the ceremony at the shrine. Eight more flags, already folded, were given to her mother and each of her seven children.

"Brent has shown us that there is goodness in the world," said his father. "Let us serve one another and live a life similar to Christ's as Brent did."

At the time of his deployment and his death, Brent Taylor was seeking a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Utah, which would be awarded to him posthumously in the spring of 2019. A fund Scholarship has also been created in his name. .

contributing: Spencer Burt