Coldwater Canyon flag aims to honor Brent Taylor and family, inspire service
A massive American Flag unfurls in the wind high above the mouth of Coldwater Canyon in North Ogden Sunday, November 11, 2018. The flag was placed to commemorate the sacrifice of former North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor and all other veterans who have served. The flag weighs 400lbs. and made the journey with the help of several trail runner groups, a total of over 150 people (BRIAN NICHOLSON/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Kirk Chugg gives instructions to volunteers as the prepare to carry a huge American Flag to be placed on a cable high above the mouth of Coldwater Canyon in North Ogden Sunday, November 11, 2018. The flag was placed to commemorate the sacrifice of former North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor and all other veterans who have served. The flag weighs 400lbs. and made the journey with the help of several trail runner groups, a total of over 150 people (BRIAN NICHOLSON/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Volunteers hike with a massive American Flag to be placed on a cable high above the mouth of Coldwater Canyon in North Ogden Sunday, November 11, 2018. The flag was placed to commemorate the sacrifice of former North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor and all other veterans who have served. The flag weighs 400lbs. and made the journey with the help of several trail runner groups, a total of over 150 people (BRIAN NICHOLSON/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
NORTH OGDEN — Brent Taylor’s mission was to serve, whether in the military or in his community, North Ogden.
And Kirk Chugg, a friend, wants that to resonate, wants others to understand that so they, too, get involved. “We want that message to spread,” he said.
To that end, Chugg and a team of volunteers worked late last week and over the weekend to put up a very visible tribute — a giant, quarter-acre sized U.S. flag hanging across Coldwater Canyon. It’s visible in North Ogden and beyond, and Chugg, in addition to highlighting Taylor’s focus on service, wants to honor him, give some solace to his family, wife Jennie and the couple’s seven kids.
“It’s nothing short of amazing,” said North Ogden City Councilman Phillip Swanson.
Taylor, who had served as North Ogden mayor, died Nov. 3 in Afghanistan while nearing the end of a year-long deployment with the Utah Army National Guard. He was on leave from his mayoral post, and his killing — apparently at the hands of a member of the Afghani special forces he was helping train who turned on him — has shocked and saddened many across Utah and beyond.
“We all loved him. He was a big part of everybody’s life,” said Chugg. Chugg grew up in North Ogden, and though he now lives in Pleasant View, “I still consider him my mayor.”
Brian Nicholson
Mark Miller, left, offers a prayer prior to unloading a huge American Flag to be placed on a cable high above the mouth of Coldwater Canyon in North Ogden Sunday, November 11, 2018. The flag was placed to commemorate the sacrifice of former North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor and all other veterans who have served. The flag weighs 400lbs. and made the journey with the help of several trail runner groups, a total of over 150 people (BRIAN NICHOLSON/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Taylor was in his second term as mayor, served a term on the North Ogden City Council before that and had served in the Utah Army National Guard since 2003. He was on his fourth military deployment.
The flag flying in Coldwater Canyon measures 150 feet by 78 feet and belongs to Follow the Flag. The group started flying the flag last year in Grove Creek Canyon near Pleasant Grove to mark Fourth of July activities there. It’s been used during University of Utah and Utah State University football games, held by hand over the fields, but the trip to Coldwater Canyon, east of North Ogden, marks the first time it’s flown aloft in another canyon.
The aim of the flag is to foster healing and inspire patriotism and, given the circumstances of Taylor’s death while serving the country, placement here in Weber County is fitting, said Kyle Fox. He helped organize Follow the Flag and has dubbed the flag’s presence near North Ogden Healing Flight 1.
Efforts to place the flag in Coldwater Canyon, involving around 140 volunteers, started last Thursday, when a team went into the mountainous area to find suitable locations to anchor the cables that would hold the giant flag, weighing 400 pounds. On Friday, crews sunk anchors into the ground, cable was strung across the canyon on Saturday and the flag went flying on Sunday, in time for a vigil planned for that afternoon at the amphitheater in Barker Park in North Ogden.
“It took a lot of people helping to get the flag up there,” Chugg said. He’s particularly happy the volunteers involved were able to complete the task without generating undue attention so they could surprise the Taylor family and the public. Volunteers involved included reps from Weber County Search and Rescue and a local trail running group, among others.
The flag is lit at night by a giant floodlight and the plan is to leave it flying until next Sunday, Chugg hopes after the conclusion of memorial services for Taylor. “Brent did big things, so it seems very fitting,” he said.
Taylor’s remains were still in the hands of U.S. Department of Defense officials, Swanson said Monday, and funeral arrangements were pending. Tentative plans call for a service on Nov. 17 or 24.