Candlelight Vigil For North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor

NORTH OGDEN, Utah – With everything dividing these days, it’s refreshing when something brings us together.

Brent Taylor would have been proud to have seen the hundreds of people gathered outside his North Ogden home Wednesday evening.

However, it was his death that brought them here.

“This family needs that support,” said Jeanette Sweet, who also lives in North Ogden. “I’ve only been here three years and that man was phenomenal with what he inspired people to say and do and his value system.”

Taylor, who was a Major with the Utah National Guard, was killed this past weekend in Afghanistan.

It was his 4th deployment.

When Sweet heard about his death, she says it really hit home for her.

“My dad is an 86-year-old veteran. This is his flag right here that I brought because he couldn’t be here,” she said, while holding an American flag during the candlelight vigil.

American flags lined the front of the Taylor family home where people gathered to sing songs and let the family know they are being supported.

“It has left a hollow spot in this community right now. So it’s going to take a while for that to heal,” said Frank Hard, a North Ogden resident who says he knew Taylor well. “He was an amazing man who always looked to the future to make our community a better place.”

Even though the vigil was planned, some of the songs and speeches weren’t, especially when Jennie Taylor, Brent’s wife, came outside to thank the crowd.

“For the friendships that you offer,” she said. “Though our hearts are broken we have no regrets.”

She’s now figuring out how to raise seven children without her husband.

However, she’s certainly not alone.

“When this calms down, we still need to be here to take care of Jennie,” said Hare.

And maybe that’s what this vigil is about; to remember we’re never alone when we’re together.

“The solace of this community coming out and just bodies being here showing her she’s not alone,” said Sweet. “That matters.”