[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 181 (Thursday, November 15, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7044-S7045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                           Major Brent Taylor

  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to honor the 
extraordinary life and service of Utah Army National Guard MAJ Brent 
Taylor. Major Taylor gave the ultimate sacrifice on November 3, 2018, 
while deployed to Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife Jennie and 
his seven children Megan, Lincoln, Alex, Jacob, Ellie, Jonathan, and 
Caroline, to whom he was a devoted husband and father.
  Major Taylor's record of service demonstrates his willingness to go 
above and beyond the call of duty to both his country and the State of 
Utah. He joined the Utah Army National Guard in 2003 and received a 
commission as a second lieutenant from the Brigham Young University 
Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2006. He distinguished himself in 
multiple specialties with the Utah National Guard, including 
intelligence and military police.
  Major Taylor was continuously ready to take up the call to arms and 
deployed four times on missions to Iraq and Afghanistan. He held a 
variety of roles, including platoon leader, combat adviser, and chief 
of staff to the Special Operations Advisory Group. Throughout his tours 
of service, Major Taylor received several awards for his courage, 
sacrifice, and leadership; he received a Bronze Star in honor of his 
ability to calmly and safely lead his men through miles of treacherous 
territory and a Purple Heart for wounds received during an IED attack 
on his vehicle.
  His love of his State and his country was also evident beyond the 
uniform. Major Taylor gave his time and energy to his community, 
serving tirelessly as a member of the North Ogden City Council from 
2010-2013 and as mayor of North Ogden after being elected in 2013. He 
was a known to be a hands-on leader, attentive to and beloved by his 
community.
  Last Christmas morning, when snow had fallen all night, Brent was 
with his city employees plowing roads, so that other families could 
safely celebrate together and these friends could get home to theirs. 
He stood as an example to me by continually representing how to best 
serve your fellow man. For him, service was the best way to show 
discipleship to God.
  After being reelected in 2017, he took a leave of absence from the 
mayor's office in 2018 and headed back to the battlefield, deploying to 
Afghanistan. When he announced his leave of absence to the people of 
North Ogden City before departing for Afghanistan, Major Taylor told 
them that he felt called to serve his country there and that ``service 
is what leadership is all about.'' At that time, I presented a flag to 
Major Taylor and expressed my gratitude for ``Utahns who carry our flag 
into harm's way for the cause of freedom.'' I pray it was a reminder to 
him of the love and support our State has for him. I am confident that 
he stood as an example of the best our flag represents every day of his 
deployment.
  Following Major Taylor's tragic passing, Major Abdul Rahmani, an 
Afghani pilot with whom he worked, sent a letter to Major Taylor's wife 
describing the great impact of his life; in his words, he was a 
``loving, caring, and compassionate man whose life was not just 
meaningful, it was inspirational . . . he died on our soil but he died 
for the success of freedom and democracy in both of our countries.'' 
Not only that, but Major Taylor exemplified to him the importance of 
family: ``Your husband taught me to love my wife

[[Page S7045]]

Hamida as an equal and to treat my children as treasured gifts, to be a 
better father, to be a better husband, and to be a better man.''
  While meeting with Jennie and their children this last week, I was 
deeply moved to hear story after story about this great Utahn. These 
stories held consistent themes of family, faith, patriotism, and 
service. His legacy will continue to bless countless people and will 
continue to encourage and inspire me.
  To honor his life and memory, a group of friends, law enforcement 
officials, and volunteers gathered to carry an American flag to display 
in Coldwater Canyon on Veterans Day. Members of the North Ogden 
community and Utahns across the State have all come together to 
commemorate his life, as is only fitting.
  Major Taylor's life will be remembered as an embodiment of courage, 
sacrifice, and service and love of God, family, and country. It is my 
privilege to honor him today and to call him friend.
  Thank you.

                          ____________________