Attendance at Taylor’s annual Trapper Days celebration held over the Memorial Day weekend seemed to be down, but that was partly due to the recent outbreak of an equine virus and the voluntary quarantine called for throughout the state. This resulted in the cancellation of the trail ride and barrel racing.

The memorial program was organized by Floyd and Pat Fuentes, who took over Charlie and Donna Hall’s duties. It set the tone for the weekend.

“We appreciate all you have done for our nation and our community,” emcee Floyd Fuentes told the veterans in the audience.

Aaron Solomon sang the National Anthem, then the flag retirement ceremony began with members of Snowflake-Taylor American Legion Post 126, and Boy Scout Troops 741 and 743 retiring the old flag and raising the new flag.

David Larson of the American Legion presented the flag to John Brimhall, who served in the Air Force, fighting in World War II. Brimhall’s grandson, Logan, who just returned from Afghanistan, was on hand to watch the ceremony. Logan is presently stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.

Descendents of those who served our country, leaving from Taylor, read the 307 names that are on the monument. Fuentes announced the two names that were added to the monument, Roy Jewell, who is in the Army, and served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Scott Keil, who served in Iraq and was wounded, so is home now.

Fuentes acknowledged the five veterans who gave their lives fighting for our country, including Royal Lewis, World War I; Gyle and Hunt Standifird and Fen Wakefield, World War II; and Dorothy Fails, Desert Storm.

Fuentes acknowledged the seven veterans who died this past year, including Val Howard Gale Sr., Duane Ellis Walton, Theodore LeBlanc, Orville Lyman Baird, Ettore Silvio Andreni, Lorenzo Jack Standifird and Leslie Joel Mortensen.

There are 153 veterans buried in the Taylor Cemetery, and Fuentes thanked the Perkins family for placing flags on each of those graves for the past 90 years.

Norris Baldwin, who was drafted into the Army in 1961 and served in Vietnam, was the speaker. He went through the Pledge of Allegiance, explaining the meaning of many of the words.

“We are only one, but we are one and we make a difference,” said Baldwin. “When we don’t, we’re irrelevant.” He encouraged everyone to use their freedom, including the right to vote, noting that our government is of the people, by the people and for the people. “We are to be heard,” he said.

Baldwin served in the 25th Infantry Division and was deployed to Thailand. He shared his feelings for Captain Summers, who led them by example, not just words.

He spoke of a son-in-law who has served in Afghanistan several times who sent Baldwin one of his most prized possessions, a U.S. flag that flew over one of the training post of the Night Stalkers, of which his son-in-law is a member. These are special operations soldiers, explained Baldwin, noting that his son-in-law’s unit transported the Navy SEALs into Pakistan when they took out Osama Bin Ladin last month.

Baldwin also shared thoughts of his friend Larry Chesley, a pilot during the Vietnam War who was shot down, spending seven years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. He has since written a book about his experiences.

Baldwin spoke of the propaganda pounded into prisoners of war by their captors, using Americans who opposed the Vietnam War by doing such things as burning American flags. “Our duty was to fight for America,” said Baldwin.

“I am proud to live in the United States and especially to be a Taylorite,” he concluded. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve in the military. It made me a better person.”

“I’m proud to be an American,” said Fuentes. “I love it!”

The program ended with “God Bless America,” sung by Aaron Solomon, and “Echo Taps,” performed by Bill Solomon, Pearce Solomon and Mack Tenney.

Everyone enjoyed the events following the program, including the tractor parade, the horseshoe contest, children’s rides on a train and the annual weight pulling for Pit Bulls, an All American Dog Registry Four Corners Conformation show.

This year the Bucket of Blood re-enactors, who are headquartered in Holbrook, performed several re-enactments, including a bank robbery and the famous shoot out with the Blevins and Commodore Perry Owens that took place in Holbrook.

Several local people participated in the Taylor Memorial Day country music show, which ended with a dance with music provided by the Sundowners, a local country western group comprised of Floyd Fuentes, Marshall Yarn, Donny Kennedy and Pat Walker.

On Monday, May 30, a Hayride Extravaganza was held beginning at the Margaret McCleve Log Cabin. A horsedrawn wagon ride with the Ed Ulrich family toured the town, followed by a chili bean and cornbread dinner, and hoedown with music by the Yarn Brothers.

Members of Snowflake-Taylor American Legion Post 126 give a 21-gun salute.

Members of Boy Scout Troops 741 and 743 retire the flag that was presented to Taylor veteran John Brimhall.

Members of Boy Scout Troops 741 and 743 raise a new flag over the Veterans Monument located on the corner of Main and Center streets in Taylor.