Family Members Of 2 Fallen Utah Soldiers Attend State Of The Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Family members of two fallen soldiers from Utah were inside the U.S. Capitol Tuesday evening as President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address.

The wife of Major Brent Taylor, who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in November, tells KSL’s Ladd Egan that she is honored to be attending the State of the Union address.

During the interview, Jennie Taylor said that while traveling to D.C. Tuesday, she reflected that it’s been exactly three months to the day that she traveled to Dover Air Base to greet her husband’s remains.

“The gravity of the date and the timing kind of hit me this morning as I left my home,” Mrs. Taylor said.

She said this trip is very different from that somber and difficult time when her world — and that of their seven children — changed forever.

“It feels like we’ve come a long way in those three months,” Mrs. Taylor said.

She carries on the legacy of husband.

“He died defending the constitution of the United States,” Mrs. Taylor said.

Wearing a Gold Star pin, Mrs. Taylor was seated in the house gallery for the State of the Union address, as a guest of Rep. Rob Bishop.

“This moment is America to me,” Mrs. Taylor said.

For 15 years, she supported her husband, often behind the scenes, and now feels that their roles are reversed.

“I feel that I have suddenly become the public face of us, but I feel him with me. I feel like now he writes my speeches. He tells me what to say. And just as I was always so proud to be by his side, I think he’s proud of me. I think he’s happy with the way we are trying to help carry on this legacy and not dwell too much on the death and the sorrow, but celebrate the life and the legacy. And the legacy that didn’t begin with Brent or Jennie Taylor – it’s so much bigger than any of us,” Mrs. Taylor said.

VIDEO: “I feel that I have suddenly become the public face of us,” says Jennie Taylor, the widow of #Utah Maj. Brent Taylor. “But I feel him with me.” Mrs. Taylor says it’s an honor to be attending the #SOTU2019 address tonight. @KSL5TV @KSLcom @kslnewsradio @DNewsPolitics #utpol pic.twitter.com/Nb7SPy2GKZ

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) February 6, 2019

Instead of focusing on the politics, Mrs. Taylor says this moment is about her love for our country.

“Long before I knew I’d end up married to an American war hero, I knew I was marrying an American patriot,” she said. “What drew Brent and I together was a love for God and this country. And this is a huge honor for me. It’s a huge honor for our family, for Representative Bishop to have invited me here, to host me here tonight, to let me go in that room. I am like a kid on Christmas morning. I just can’t tell you how grateful I am, how honored I feel, how humbled I feel, and just a great opportunity I will never forget.”

Above all, it’s about the couple’s seven children and showing them how to continue their father’s legacy.

“They can either feel begrudging and bitter and angry and stand in the shadow of their father, or they can stand on his shoulders,” Mrs. Taylor said.

“I think he’s proud of me,” says Jennie Taylor, the wife of fallen #Utah soldier Maj. Brent Taylor. She’s on her way to attend the #SOTU as a guest of @RobBishopUT. @KSL5TV @KSLcom @kslnewsradio #utpol #StateOfTheUnion pic.twitter.com/Q2plhPZ9eW

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) February 6, 2019

Major Taylor’s parents are also in D.C. and will be attending a reception Wednesday afternoon to honor their son. Members of Utah’s congressional delegation are expected to attend that reception.

More: Here Are The Guests That Members Of Congress Are Bringing To The State Of The Union

Senator Mitt Romney has invited the mother of fallen Navy Seal Jason Workman to attend. Workman is a Blanding, Utah, native who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2011.

“I’m humbled to be joined by Mrs. Workman,” said @SenatorRomney about his guest for #SOTU . The mother of fallen Navy SEAL Jason Workman, a Blanding #Utah native, will join @MittRomney for the speech. Workman was killed in Afghanistan in 2011 @KSL5TV @KSLcom @kslnewsradio #utpol pic.twitter.com/0Zml921ype

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) February 4, 2019

Romney said he made the invitation to honor the ultimate sacrifice Workman gave while serving our country.

“Chief Petty Officer Jason Workman selflessly gave his life in service to our country — protecting the freedoms and values we hold most dear. One way we can honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is to honor our Gold Star families,” Sen. Romney said. “I’m humbled to be joined by Mrs. Workman for this year’s State of the Union address, and I am deeply grateful to the Workman family for their tremendous service to our nation.”

Related: Sen. Scott Invites Parkland Father To State Of The Union