Community Shows Support for Fallen Utah Soldier’s Family, Utah National Guard Releases New Details
Nov 4, 2018, 6:06 PM | Updated: Nov 5, 2018, 8:26 pm
NORTH OGDEN, Utah – The day after North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor was killed while deployed to Afghanistan, the community is showing support for his family.
Several veterans set out flags along 2600 North and at City Hall in honor of Taylor, who took a military leave of absence to serve in Afghanistan.
“I can only say that my heart was crushed,” said Russell Bingham.
Bingham served in the Army in Afghanistan in the mid-2000s. He said he could relate to leaving young children behind to service his country, as Taylor did. He felt compelled to help put up the flags as a tribute to Taylor.
“They represent the town, the love, and the friendship that Brent showed every single member of the community here. Our hope is that by putting this out here, he’ll be remembered once again and I think it’s an amazing thing,” Bingham said.
As the community honors Taylor, the Utah National Guard has released a bit more information about what they believe happened in Kabul.
Taylor had volunteered for a NATO operation helping to train members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. Major General Jeff Burton, the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, said they believe Taylor was on foot patrol with some of those members, when one of them fired on him and another U.S. service-member. Taylor was killed. The other service-member was injured.
“I do believe that Major Taylor felt he was among friends with the people that he was working with, but the Taliban is still have activities going in Afghanistan,” Burton said.
Taylor had kept in touch with friends and family back home through Facebook, posting his latest activities. In his final update on October 28, he talked about what it meant to him to see the Afghan people head to the polls on Election Day, despite the threat of attacks. He said he hoped everyone back in the United States would exercise that right as well.
People have also shown their financial support for Taylor’s family. An online fundraiser has already brought in more than $170,000. (https://www.gofundme.com/mayor-brent-taylor)
