“Whether it’s a small flag or a large flag, it’s what the flag represents that’s so beautiful”: Maj. Brent Taylor Foundation needs help with flag campaign

NORTH OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — The Major is a giant American flag that measures 150 feet long by 78 feet wide and weighs 400 pounds. It was named “the Major” to honor a former North Ogden mayor, Major Brent Taylor, who died in Afghanistan while serving in the United States Army.

After the flag was severely damaged while flying in Coldwater Canyon last November to honor veterans, it’s been mended, and a replacement flag will soon join its ranks. However, The Major Brent Taylor Foundation needs a little help to ensure the future of the tradition.  

With Independence Day, Pioneer Day and all of the events that come with summer, it’s one of the busiest times of the year for The Major Brent Taylor Foundation, and it needs some help. It needs volunteers to carry flags at events like parades and rodeos, including four parades and a rodeo this weekend. It also needs to raise some money for the flag campaign, which is how it is paying for the Major’s repairs, the new flag that will fly in Coldwater Canyon in the Major’s place, and the maintenance and storage costs of all of the flags it uses for events year-round.  

Campaign goal

The goal for the flag campaign was $50,000, but thanks to the generosity of the community and a big grant, there is only $15,000 more to go. The foundation hopes to get the money raised to celebrate the Fourth of July, commemorate the sixth anniversary of the founding of the foundation, and to honor Major Brent Taylor on his 46th birthday, which is on July 6.  

“Whether it’s a small flag or a large flag, it’s what the flag represents that’s so beautiful,” The Major Brent Taylor Foundation’s founder and CEO, Jennie Taylor, told ABC4. “I hope it’s a symbol of hope, of healing, of unity, comradery, and of brotherhood.”  

For the last few years, the foundation has flown the Major in the canyon during the first part of November to honor veterans. If you ask anyone who lives in the area about it, they are likely to know what the flag is and just as likely to like the tradition. However, last year a strong storm ripped through the canyon and nearly tore the flag in half.  

“It was about $9,000 dollars to prepare that flag,” stated Taylor. “That flag will now be used for ground missions and not in the canyon.” She explained that ground missions are events like the recent military appreciation night at an Ogden Raptors game. As well as a rodeo this coming Saturday.  

“We’ve commissioned a new flag with our friends at Colonial Flag in Sandy, Utah,” she said. “A new flag yet to be named to fly in the canyon.” The community can help name the new flag by visiting the foundation’s website and leaving a suggestion, but that’s not the only way to help.   

“We need to fund the new flag, we need to fund repairs for the flag, we need to fund the rest of the flag missions throughout the year,” explained Taylor. “It will cost between 40 and $50,000 if you add all that up. We have a beautiful and very generous grant of $25,000 from the Kahlert Foundation. We just found out about that last week. We’re hoping we can call on the community to help us match that grant.”  

The foundation is well on its way to reaching that goal with the community already donating $10,000. “It lifted such a stress off our collective shoulders,” Taylor said referring to the large grant and community support. People can donate directly to the foundation using this link.

Call for volunteers

The foundation also needs help with summer events like parades and rodeos.  

“The Major takes about 100 people, and the Lieutenant takes about 40 to 60. We prefer 60,” Doug Clarke told ABC4. He’s been lending a helping hand to the foundation since its inception. Last year, he pulled off a surprise many people in Ogden may remember.  

With some help, he hung the Lieutenant across Washington Blvd for the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo and parade. Only a handful of people knew about it. ABC4 took video of the flag the day it made its appearance, and people on the street seemed pleased with the addition to the downtown skyline.  

The Lieutenant is smaller than the Major. It is 60 feet long and 30 feet wide. This entire flag can fit inside the Major’s canton, or the blue section. It is often used at parades across Northern Utah because the Major is too big. In fact, it will be one of the major displays at four parades this Friday.  

As someone who loves the foundation, Doug Clark says volunteering at these events is humbling. “It’s an experience that is deep in your soul, okay?” He stated. “But it brings you closer to those around you. That’s what were after. Our community, our nation, unity, respect.” He encourages anyone who is thinking about volunteering to do just that.  

People can sign up to volunteer here.