By Bree Murray, Gala Chair & Volunteer

I first met Brent and Jennie when they moved into our neighborhood about 16 years ago. We became good friends and made a lot of fun memories with our young families. In the aftermath of Brent’s death, I had some very emotional and difficult times of going through Brent’s totes of personal items and storing his things, because it was too painful for Jennie to do at that time. I knew I needed to step up and help her wherever possible. It felt like a call and a pleading from Brent to be there for the long haul with her.

The first three years I went over weekly to help clean the house on Tuesday nights so Jennie could put the kids to bed.

A few weeks before what would have been Brent’s 40 birthday, Jennie decided we’d throw a big party on his birthday and invite all the family, friends and neighbors who had helped so much. The next Tuesday I went back to help and do more planning and Jennie said, “So I started a foundation and I just committed to fund scholarships at BYU and U of U!”

I remember being totally shocked! So, we decided to make Brent’s birthday a fundraiser and asked for donations to help fund the scholarships. We called it $40 for 40!

We scrambled and with the help of good friends we threw together a silent auction and a great party. We put flyers up and Jennie got on the news to promote it.

We had it outside at a park and it was awesome! I remember being relieved that planning that big of a party was over…

But that was just the beginning! I’ve been helping in the Foundation ever since, this year as the Gala Chair, so the mega-party planning continues. Only now it’s much bigger!

It’s been a busy but very rewarding job overseeing and organizing the countless hours spent by our amazing volunteers in trying to make the event a success. We’re pleased with how things turned out this year and we have a lot of ideas on ways to improve it in the future!

I have also loved being a part of other components in the Foundation such as: setting up flags for service members’ funerals; traveling to Georgia to help 187 Gold Star Families have a weekend of honor and healing; helping at our MBT5 Youth Leadership Conference; taking my family to help with our 9/11 events, our Veterans Day Devotionals & the new Flag Unfurling Ceremony.

I love that there’s a lot of opportunities to help my kids get involved and to learn how to make a difference, inspire patriotism, honor our brave service members and bridge the gap between them and civilians.

It’s definitely been an honor to be involved with Jennie and the Major Brent Taylor Foundation!