Episode 484 Megan Taylor A Daughter Carrying a Fallen Hero’s Legacy Transcript
This transcript is from episode 484 with guest Megan Taylor.
Scott DeLuzio: [00:00:00] Before we dive into this episode, make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter at Drive On Podcast dot com slash subscribe. When you sign up, you’ll get my five favorite episodes sent straight to your inbox. No fluff. Just the best insights to help you drive on losing a loved one in service to this country is a weight no family wants to bear.
But what happens next? How do you carry on honor their legacy and find your own path forward? Today you’ll hear from Meghan Taylor, a gold star child whose father Major Brent Taylor was killed in action during his fourth deployment. She’s here to share her journey, growing up with a father dedicated to service navigating grief, and stepping up to ensure the sacrifices of those who served in the global war on terrorism are never forgotten.
She’s also playing a pivotal role in shaping the future. Of remembrance through her work with the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This is a powerful discussion [00:01:00] about service sacrifice and the lasting impact of those who dedicate their lives to something greater than themselves.
Welcome to the show, Megan.
I’m really glad to have you here.
Megan Taylor: Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. So, let, let’s just start with maybe if you don’t mind telling us a little bit about your father and kind of the impact that he had on you know, obviously country, community, and, and your family as well.
Megan Taylor: Yeah, so my father as. You’ve said he was in combat. He was in the National Guard and he served four deployments overseas, and then he would go to his trainings every month or so, and that was his military service, but he was also a public servant in that he served on the city council and was later mayor of my small town in Ogden, Utah.
So he was on the city council. I was very young when he served his first term there. Then served, I believe, two or three terms there before he was elected as mayor of my [00:02:00] small town, and he served in that way as well. So both of those aspects just kind of show what a selfless person he was. He was serving the country and the community in many ways, and then just bettering it by being a friend to all of those who were around him.
Scott DeLuzio: So, and just, you know, the little bit that I know about your father, just through, you know, kinda reading up a little bit, doing my research for this episode and, and also you know, knowing a little bit about your story from our involvement with the global War on Terrorism Memorial foundation.
I, I get the sense that service was a big thing for him being able to serve not only in his capacity in the National Guard serving. On a larger scale, the, the country serving overseas in deployments, but also serving the community. Which for folks who aren’t familiar with the National Guard, that’s, that’s kind of a big thing is you know, the National Guard you hear, they get called up for you know, all sorts of emergencies and stuff on a state level where they, you [00:03:00] know, maybe it’s a weather, you know, hurricanes or, probably not so much a hurricane in, in Utah, but you know, you know, winter weather and those types of things, I’m sure are, are issues that they had to deal with. And you know, that’s that’s something that they, they, you know, probably oftentimes they get call up for. And then, then obviously serving on the, the city council.
And as, as mayor, which, you know, to me it’s, it’s kind of interesting that, you know, the mayor of. A town is gonna go off and now fight in, in a war somewhere overseas. And that, that’s, I, I think it’s gotta be rather unique that,
Megan Taylor: Oh, certainly. Yeah. So he was actually, he’s reported to be the first sitting politician to be killed in action since the Civil War. So really quite a long time back since something similar to this has happened. And that’s just because, I mean, the only explanation I can give for that is because he loved his community, he loved the people around him, and so he.
Made that his career and he made that what he [00:04:00] did, and he made sure to keep those people in mind with everything that he did. And even when he became the mayor, it would snow a lot in my town. And so there were always the plow drivers that had to be up really late on these scary roads just for long, long hours and.
My father was always right there driving one of those around right next to the rest of the guys on his city administration, and that was by no means something he was required to do or even expected to do, but he always made sure that if they were out, he was out. So he really was just a selfless leader in that way, leading by example, truly.
Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. When you see somebody, you know, a, a mayor or someone in the city council or you know, anyone in that type of leadership position who goes out and is doing. The work that they’re expecting other people to do. Driving the plows or what have you. That to me just [00:05:00] shows like that’s a leader that is willing to do the things that he’s asking other people to do, and especially driving on those scary roads and stuff.
I’ve, I’ve been up in that area a a few times and you know, they’re, they’re not like the flat. Straight roads that we have here in Arizona where everything’s like laid out like a perfect grid.
Megan Taylor: No.
Scott DeLuzio: there’s, there’s a lot of twists and turns. There’s mountains, there’s, there’s all sorts of stuff that that you kinda have to pay attention to.
And if you’re not a hundred percent certain of what you’re doing especially on icy roads that, that, that could be a, a major disaster. So, so that’s. Definitely paints a picture. I think at, at least for the, the listeners for myself anyways, who didn’t know him, unfortunately. He sounds like a wonderful person.
Paints a picture a little bit of what type of person he was. But on the, the family side what are maybe some of your favorite memories of your father? Maybe that showcase who he was as a person and, and maybe a leader too.
Megan Taylor: So with everything going on, he was obviously a [00:06:00] very busy person and I think the more I grow older, I realize just how much he had going on. Because when you’re younger, your parents don’t really have a world outside of the family and outside of your relationship to them. But I. The more that I look back, I’m like, wow, he was doing a lot, but it never seemed that way to me.
He definitely was busy, but when he was home, he would be sure to spend time with us no matter how tired. I’m sure that he was. He always made sure to. Jump with us on the tramp or chase us around the yard or whatever it was. And so that really was something that’s very meaningful to me now. And he and I share a very, very strong sweet tooth.
So every holiday after Easter or Valentine’s Day or whatever it may be, we would always go to the store and. Got get just all of the candy from the sales section. And so all of the nasty candy, that’s just pure sugar, he loved circus, peanuts,
Scott DeLuzio: Oh wow.[00:07:00]
Megan Taylor: beef. So the extremes, I mean really. But that was certainly something he passed along to me.
And so that was something that the two of us always had in common. I.
Scott DeLuzio: That’s funny. Yeah, I, I definitely get the that sweet tooth piece of it and what, what better day. To satisfy that sweet tooth and the day after Valentine’s Day, the day after Easter, the day after, you know, any of those Halloween or any of those other holidays where you can just go and get it for 75% off or whatever they they’re doing right.
You can load up for the same, you know, same amount of money and get a ton of candy. So that’s, that’s awesome. That’s pretty funny. You know, and it, it, it’s probably one of those things too where you probably now on, on a date, where you, you might go to the store yourself and, you know, pick up a box of candy or you know, something that you might have done as a, a kid with your father.
And that’s just that little reminder you know, of him that, that kind of lives on, in, in your head, right?
Megan Taylor: Definitely, yeah. A more [00:08:00] personal touch.
Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, exactly. And, and one of the thing, the reason why I bring that up is because, you know, sometimes especially. In a situation where, you know, obviously your, your father passed away and you’re not able to share those those moments going forward anymore.
But those, those little things serve as like a nice reminder of the good times and that it, it, yes, of course it’s a, you know, terrible situation. It, it’s, you know, if we could take it back, we would you know, if we could. Reverse time and fix all that and make it so that he’s still here. Obviously we, we would do all of those things.
That’s not possible. So, the next best thing is to hang onto those memories and remember the good times and, and have a smile on your face when you, you know, break open that 75% off candy or
Megan Taylor: exactly. Yes. Yes, I agree.
Scott DeLuzio: so were there any like, lessons from either his military or you know, public. Servant life that he passed on to you from [00:09:00] any, any lessons from his service that, that were instilled in you?
Megan Taylor: Yeah. I think a big one that I’ve taken away is just his selfness, selflessness, because he really would always, I. Focus on what the people around him needed and what they needed to hear or what they needed his help with. And that’s such a huge thing that is a lot easier said than done in most cases.
So that is something that I definitely learned by example from him. And it’s obviously very important to take your own needs into account and make sure that those are fulfilled. But he always made sure to also. Take into account what those around him needed, what the community needed, and kind of looking at that bigger picture rather than just focus tunnel vision on what do I need right now, what do I want?
And that’s, that’s a huge, huge lesson that it’s really hard to live that. But he did that, so
Scott DeLuzio: That is not an easy thing to do. Any anybody who does that is [00:10:00] it’s a special kind of person who, who is able to do that and, and. Do it consistently. I, I guess that maybe that’s the best way to put it. Because maybe it’s easy to do it that one time. When, when, okay, I, I’m gonna think through it.
And this is logical. Okay? Yes, I, I know I need to put my needs aside for this one per situation, this one person, whatever the situation is.
Megan Taylor: right.
Scott DeLuzio: But to, to live a life of that type of mentality, that’s not an easy thing to do. And so again, we’re painting a picture here of who your father was and the, the type of selflessness.
You know, we, we talk a lot about that in the military where it’s selfless service is one of those, those values that, that we talk about and not everybody lives up to it. It, it’s again, not an easy thing to do. Right.
Megan Taylor: right? Yeah.
Scott DeLuzio: now. I, I know being a [00:11:00] Gold Star family member myself I, I can sort of relate to a little bit of, you know, what your family has gone through through my own experiences and, you know, none of us ever wanna become a gold star family member.
That’s the last thing any, any military family wants. What was your experience like after your father’s passing, you were young at, at that point? And. You know, how did, how did that change your perspective on, on life, on military service, on you know, things in general?
Megan Taylor: Yeah. I mean, since then, and it’s been about seven years now, it feels like. Everything has changed. I, I mean, I only was 13 years old at the time, so obviously from 13 to 19, in any case, almost everything is gonna change. That’s a lot of life experience that you get during those times. But with all of this, I think I’ve, in these past years become a lot more conscious of what all of this has meant for me and meant for my [00:12:00] family and what his service meant to him.
And I. I think I’ve become a lot more involved since his passing with the military and even just conscious of his military service and what that means, because like you said, I was very young. I was only a few years old when he left on his first deployment, and so obviously I just had no idea what that meant.
I just knew that he wasn’t there and even when I was 13. I still, I mean, it’s hard to know really what, what that’s like. And your parents don’t really want you to know what exactly that’s like when you’re such a young age. And so he was a Guardsman, so we didn’t live on base. And because of that, I never really had a military community around me, kind of a support system that knew what that’s like until after his passing.
So that is one. S one thing that has come of this that has [00:13:00] definitely been been beneficial is that I’ve been able to meet others. Like me through organizations like the GWA Memorial Foundation or just the many organizations that exist, I’ve been able to meet people that have experienced having a loved one go away with the military and what that’s like, and maybe losing that loved one.
And we can relate on that level. And because of that, I’ve become a lot more, I think, involved in the military community, which has been something that I’ve really enjoyed and I’ve gotten to meet so many just amazing individuals who either served themselves or maybe had a family member who served. I. And so I think I’ve gotten a lot better of a grasp on what military services like and what that means for the families, for the individual, and I, I am grateful that I’ve been able to expand my perspective in that way.
Scott DeLuzio: Yeah. One thing with the military community that. I’ve [00:14:00] noticed from myself having served, but also post service and being a gold star family member and a veteran, is that the military community is going to like, wrap you in open arms and like, take you under their wing and help you in any way that we can so long as you want it, right?
If, if, if, if that, if that’s something that you want. Great. It’s there and a hundred percent you’re gonna, you’re gonna get taken care of. If it’s something that you don’t want, cool. We’ll, we’ll leave you alone. But but that’s one thing I’ve noticed is, is it’s just such a big, open, welcoming community of
Megan Taylor: It is.
Scott DeLuzio: really want nothing more than to help kinda like what you were talking about with your father wanting to serve to help other people and, and whatnot.
It’s like we see a family who is in a time of need. Okay. What needs to be done? We’re gonna, we’re gonna figure it out. We, we don’t want them to suffer anymore than what they already have suffered. We’re gonna, we’re gonna go out and help them. And, and by the way, [00:15:00] this is not a you know, a week, a month, you know?
Yeah. We’ll, we’ll, we’ll help ’em out now because they’re, they’re hurting now. This is, you’re in it. This is for, this is a lifelong thing where there, there’s gonna be people there for you. You know, for forever. Because that’s, that’s just the way I, the way I see it anyways, is the way the military community works.
Megan Taylor: Yes. It’s such a blessing to have everyone be so supportive like that and so welcoming,
Scott DeLuzio: What have been some of the, and you, you just talked about some of the, the benefits I don’t wanna say benefit that that’s not the right word, but some of the, the positive outcomes that, that you’ve experienced. What were some of the challenges that obviously losing a family member there, there’s that obvious grief, but were there some challenges that your family faced along the way?
Megan Taylor: I think it’s kind of a challenge has been realizing that these challenges are still unfolding and this whole thing is still being [00:16:00] worked out in our brains and kind of what does that look like for us? And especially with my younger siblings, they come to mind because I am the oldest and I have six younger siblings, so there’s seven of us total, but I was only 13 and I am the oldest.
My youngest sister was just shy of 1-year-old. She was two weeks away from her first birthday, so she really has. No memories of him. And that’s just so heartbreaking. And to hear her ask some innocent questions, she’s seven now, just of like, what was dad like? Or I’ll show her a photo of us, us together, my dad and I, and she’ll be a bit upset because she doesn’t have very many photos of them together and she doesn’t have very many memories of them together.
So. I think that’s been a huge challenge is just how to explain this to them and how [00:17:00] to help them through this grief, and it’s such a different journey for them because it’s such a different stage of life for them still. So I think that with my siblings has been a challenge and with there being seven of them, and there’s just my mom.
Taking care of us. Now, of course, we have family members and community members who have been so, so helpful and so generous with us. But still, I mean, at the end of the day, it is a ratio of one to seven, and that’s quite difficult. And so for me then a challenge was being the oldest, I kind of stepped into that role as.
Trying to help as I can in almost a parental way. So that I think is a personal challenge for me. And then for the, for the family as a whole, it’s just, I mean, what do you even, what do you tell this 7-year-old as? She’s sad that I have a photo with my dad and she doesn’t, I mean, it, there’s, there’s just nothing.
It’s just a, it’s a hard [00:18:00] situation.
Scott DeLuzio: There’s no words really,
Megan Taylor: right.
Scott DeLuzio: It’s. I’m sorry, is the, the only things I could think of that, that come to mind that that could ever possibly mean anything. But even that seems like it falls short of, of anything, you know? And, and even, even for you at, at such a young age at 13, having to step into a caregiver role like that, you know, almost a, a parental type role.
That’s a young age to have to be in a, a, a situation like that. And it wasn’t something that you asked for or anything like that. It was sort of thrust upon you. And, and that’s, you know, I’m sorry that that happened to you too. I’m, I’m sorry that it happened to your family and that’s, but even, like I said, even that, those words just seem like not enough.
You know, and you know, for your mother, I, you know, I’m. I’m a father. My, my wife and I, we have, we have three kids. And I remember when our, our youngest [00:19:00] was born, we kind of looked at each other like, oh man, we are outnumbered now.
Megan Taylor: Yeah,
Scott DeLuzio: and we, you know, ’cause it used to be when, when there was just one, you know, obviously that’s easy because, you know, one, one of us can take care of the kid and, and the other one could be off doing something else.
And then when there’s two, okay, well we each can just. Keep track of one. That’s, that’s pretty easy. You keep track of one, I’ll keep track of the other and we’ll, we’re good to go. And then all of a sudden now we’re, we’re outnumbered. Oh man. One of us has to have at least two. And, and you know, so that, that became a, a, a bit of a, a, a mind shift as far as being a parent goes.
I can only imagine a one to seven ratio.
Megan Taylor: Oh, I know.
Scott DeLuzio: your, your mom is,
Megan Taylor: Even two to seven. Two to seven is a lot,
Scott DeLuzio: That’s a lot too.
Megan Taylor: I I have no idea.
Scott DeLuzio: But, but you know what you make it work. That’s one thing I I’ve found as being a, a parent is, is that, look, [00:20:00] these kids are everything. I, I brought ’em into the world and I’m here to protect and provide and do all the things that as a parent I need to do for them.
And I’m gonna do. Whatever I need to do to make sure that they have the best possible experience. And I’m sure a hundred percent certain that that’s what your, your parents did. That’s what your mother did af after your, your father passed. And, and try to make the best of whatever situation gets thrown at you.
And
Megan Taylor: Yes, I agree.
Scott DeLuzio: they’re, they’re terrible situations. But you know, for. Perhaps other gold star families or gold star children who might be tuning into this episode and, and listening and hearing your story do you have any message for them that you’d like to share? You know, who might be going through a similar experience, something that might help them with their, their struggles, their grief, their journey through this.
I know each one is gonna be somewhat unique, but any, anything that you have for them.
Megan Taylor: [00:21:00] Yeah. I would say, like you mentioned, their journey, everything. Every situation like this is very unique, and I think it’s important to remember that your journey is your own. And whatever your grief may look like, whatever your journey may look like is very unique to you, and there’s no good or bad, and it’s not a race, of course.
Grief is definitely not linear, at least not in my experience, and I think it’s just being. Being kind enough to yourself to allow yourself to take some space and realize that maybe I do need help, or being able to admit that you need to reach out to someone, whatever it may be. But I think it’s just being able to allow yourself that, that kindness of.
What do I need and what does this look like for me? And it might not be the same as [00:22:00] even my younger siblings or for my mother, or for you or for any other Gold Star family member. It’s just such a unique experience and I think that it’s a very resilient community. Each gold star individual that I’ve met has been incredibly resilient and an inspiration to me.
And I think it’s just about keeping on going on, even when it seems hard. Just do the best you can ’cause that’s all any of us can do,
Scott DeLuzio: And that’s all I think anyone ever would ever ask of you is do the, do the best you can. And yeah, the way I look at it is I, I think it would be perhaps a disservice to the sacrifice that was made by people like your father and, and the other, the other folks who gave their life in, in service to this country.
You know, you don’t. Give your life in service of something that you don’t [00:23:00] support or care for or want to see, grow and thrive and, and be better than what you, the way you found it or the way you were brought into it. You, you go and you, you fight for those things. So that and those people so that they can be better and.
I almost, the way I sort of feel and the way I, why I do this podcast and the why i, I am involved with the veteran community is I feel like it might be a slap in the face to people like my brother who was killed. If, if I just. Did nothing and, you know, wasted away the opportunity that I had. Because, you know, quite frankly, why, why wasn’t I in his shoes?
And, and, you know, why weren’t the roles reversed? And, you know, I, I was given this opportunity to be here and I, I better make the best of it. Because otherwise I feel like that sacrifice might’ve, might’ve been in vain. And, and that’s the last thing I ever [00:24:00] want to have happen. So, you know, that’s.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, I think though,
Megan Taylor: It is, yeah. For sure. But yeah, I really like that outlook.
Scott DeLuzio: Yeah. So. I wanna get into the Global War on Terrorism Memorial foundation. That’s where you and I met through our involvement in, in that foundation. You’ve served on the divine design
Megan Taylor: Yeah.
Scott DeLuzio: That would be, that would be interesting. The design advisory Council and also you’re the foundation’s first gold star child fellow.
And, tell us about how you got involved. How did, how did you meet the, the folks in, involved in the organization, and why did you want to even be involved in this memorial?
Megan Taylor: Yeah, so I believe it was quite a few years ago that my mom met Rod and he, I. Then brought us into the project a couple of years [00:25:00] after they had first met. So my first experience with Rod, at least that I remember was I believe in 2021. We came to Washington DC where I’m at now for school and we came here as a family to be in a parade where they were honoring certain gold star and military members.
So that was a really cool opportunity. Me and my siblings were here. We had a great time. We went to the spy museum, which is always fun. And I just remember meeting Rod and he thinking he is the coolest guy ever. And he, he was so kind to my whole family, to my younger siblings. They absolutely love him as well.
And so about a year-ish ago, I believe he reached out to my mom and he was talking about this project with her because she. She also knew one of the legislators for Utah who was on a board that we needed his [00:26:00] vote to get some of the legislation for the monument passed. So she had already been familiar with the project through that.
And then he asked us if, if she and I would be on the design advisory council, and we were. I mean, just kind of speechless and completely honored to have that opportunity. I mean, it’s so, so amazing. It goes beyond words, I think. And so that, that’s where it started. And then a couple of months after that.
Jen and Rod reached out to me and they told me about this new fellowship program that they had, and they told me that they wanted to introduce a Gold Star child fellow, and they said that they’d like to interview me to have a chance for the position, and I once again, just beyond honored. And so that’s kind of how, how I got into the project and it’s been [00:27:00] amazing and I’m so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to be involved with this at any level.
Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, I. I can relate. I’m, I’m kind of, I was kind of smiling while you were talking because some of the experiences that you described for yourself were very similar to my own experiences with how I, I met them. Oba obviously it wasn’t the same event or anything like that, but I had met them a few months ago and they were just the nicest people.
Megan Taylor: Yeah. They really are.
Scott DeLuzio: They, like I met Rod. He, he was he was standing by himself. And, and I knew, I already knew he was a busy guy. He, he had, he had been up on, on stage at this conference that we were at the military influencer conference in Atlanta a few months ago. And and he was up on stage. He was talking and he was, he was giving his whole, whole speech.
And I was like, this, this is. I was, this was an impressive guy as far as I was concerned. J just hearing him talk and then I see him
Megan Taylor: for sure.
Scott DeLuzio: standing by himself and I’m like, well, lemme just go [00:28:00] over and introduce myself and talk to him and, and everything. And he stopped what he was doing, had a whole conversation, stopped, took his selfie with me after.
It was like, it was like, you know, we’re, we instantly like, kind of just clicked and we, we connected and you know, you’re, you’re absolutely right. He’s, he’s just like, like one of the greatest guys.
Megan Taylor: Is. Yeah.
Scott DeLuzio: And having him kinda spearhead this and,
Megan Taylor: Yeah,
Scott DeLuzio: be the face of the organization and you know, getting this, this whole you know, monument constructed.
I feel like that’s, that’s the guy. He’s, he’s gonna get it done and he’s, he’s gonna do a great job at it. So,
Megan Taylor: He’s awesome.
Scott DeLuzio: definitely an awesome awesome person. You know, I, I think for. The listeners who maybe aren’t as familiar with the memorial and, and what it even represents tell us why you, you think it’s important that we even have this this memorial constructed.
Maybe what you hope visitors will be able to take away from it. When, when [00:29:00] they you know, eventually when it’s built and everything what significance does it have for you?
Megan Taylor: Yeah, so I, I’m just, like I said, so thrilled to be a part of this because it really does mean a lot to me. I have always loved visiting DC and I’ve always loved visiting the National Mall, and now that I’m going to school here, it’s about a 10, 15 minute walk for me. So I’m there quite frequently. I mean, that’s just, if I go on a walk, I might as well go to the, the monuments.
And I, I’ve just always felt that that’s a place I can go to clear my head and just take a moment and be present. And that’s the feeling that it brings to me. And that’s the feeling that it’s brought to me for many years now. And so I, I love going to these other monuments and looking at them and. I think that it is so important that we have one for what is happening now and what it has been [00:30:00] happening for decades now, because my father is far from the only one who has been lost in these efforts, right?
I mean, your brother, so many others, and those who have served as well. There are so many. Who we’re losing the chance to honor them, we’re losing precious time to let them know just how much that service means to me as a civilian and as a gold star child. And so I think it’s, it’s very vital that we get this up soon, and I, I’m, I’m really excited for it.
And like I said, I just hope this brings a similar feeling of peace. And of healing for all who visit, for those who have served, who know someone who has served, and even just civilians, because that it’s a powerful place and I believe that it really can and that it will. So I’m, I’m so excited to see this come to life.
Scott DeLuzio: Yeah. I think come to life is a good [00:31:00] way to put it because as, especially from your perspective on the Design Advisory Council, you probably have seen sketches and drafts and, and things along the way and, and maybe just seen it come from just a concept. Nothing really. I mean, it’s. An idea maybe that you had in your head, which is different from the next person and somebody else’s idea.
Everybody’s idea of it’s gonna be a little bit different, and then it grows into this thing that is this massive, wonderful wonderful monument. You know?
Megan Taylor: Yeah.
Scott DeLuzio: and I know when I had visited Washington, DC back in 2019,
Megan Taylor: Mm-hmm.
Scott DeLuzio: I. I went for a run, and I know exactly what you’re talking about, but just why not take a walk around there?
I went for a run around the mall. I went up to like the Capitol by, by the White House and, and everything. I, I, I was like, why not? If I’m here, I’m, I’m gonna go and check out all the sites, right? So, but I, I remember thinking, I, I was, I, I think the World War II [00:32:00] memorial and I was looking around and I was like, where’s ours?
For. The global war on terrorism, what for this generation? And it hadn’t occurred to me. I didn’t even realize that there was already something kind of underway. You know, just didn’t even know at that
Megan Taylor: Right.
Scott DeLuzio: you know, what was, what was going on. But in the back of my head I was like, where, where is this you know, for us?
And I had visited DC as a kid and the World War II Memorial wasn’t there when. I had visited, but it was the, the last time that I visited and I realized that like my grandfather, he served in World War II and he died before the World War II Memorial was built. And I was like, do we really gotta wait this long for, for hours to be built?
Because there’s gonna be so many people who miss out on realizing that. The country does support this [00:33:00] service and, and want to show their appreciation through this memorial. And I, I think it’s important that it exists before the people who fought in the war don’t, you know, it’s only a matter of time.
It
Megan Taylor: Yes. I agree completely, and I think Rod is always saying something similar. Let’s honor these. Let’s build this while the people we’re honoring are still here to see it, right? I mean, there’s already so many who won’t be able to, and that’s such a tragedy in and of itself. And to wait even longer is just
Scott DeLuzio: That’s right. Yeah.
Megan Taylor: deserve better.
These you deserve better. Everyone who’s served in this, who’s made that sacrifice deserves this to be up and deserves to be able to see it.
Scott DeLuzio: yeah. And one thing that really really got me with this particular memorial, and I. The concept behind it is it’s designed or it’s going to be designed for everybody. [00:34:00] Who is connected to the global war on terrorism, including you as a gold star child, including people who served in uniform like, like myself and, and countless others.
The, the Gold Star families, like, like I mentioned, the, the ones who didn’t make it home like your, your father and my brother and, and others. It’s, it’s therefore even the, the people who didn’t. Who served, but not in a uniform capacity, not in the military, but maybe in the the CIA or the FBI or the, you know, other alphabet soup organizations that are out there.
You know, the, all of those tho those people, it’s, it’s all inclusive and it’s, it’s not just Iraq and Afghanistan that those are the people that, you know, we, we think of those as like the big ones. But, but it’s, any, any, anybody who served in any capacity in any of the the theaters of operation in the global war terrorism.
So, you know, it’s, to me, it’s just a awesome thing because it allows everybody who [00:35:00] was involved in that to have this place to come to. And, and hopefully before, they need to have those honor flights, like the, like you see with the World War II Veterans and a lot, a lot of them mobility issues and, and things like that where they, they need to be pushed off a plane on a wheelchair in order to go and see that memorial that was constructed.
You know, and, and so hopefully we can do that on our own two feet. And, you know, and do that before we get to that age. And so that’s, that’s the beauty I think of. Of the, this memorial, right?
Megan Taylor: I agree completely.
Scott DeLuzio: So let’s talk about you for a minute here. How has your experience through all of this, as a, a gold star child, as the daughter of a service member, a daughter of a, the mayor in your, your town, and and now.
Representing the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation through your, your work on the [00:36:00] design advisory council, and it as the Gold Star Child Fellow. All of these things, which by the way, you’re, I, I don’t know if this has really been impressed upon the, the listeners yet you’re, you’re 19, so it’s like you’ve got your plate full already and that’s, that’s a lot a lot for anybody, but that.
That’s certainly a lot for someone you know, young, young, like you. How has all of this experience influenced your goals for the future, maybe personally, professionally? How has that shaped you?
Megan Taylor: Yeah, well I’ve definitely had a lot of opportunities like this to get involved with the military community, and that has been great, and I’ve done that somewhat professionally. I actually did an internship this past summer with the Tunnel to Towers Organization in New York, and that was such a great experience too, and that was another way for me.
To meet more members of the military community and to help serve service members and their families, and. That [00:37:00] was a great opportunity and I loved, I loved the time that I spent there and I loved the time that I’ve spent with this foundation. So I’ve had great opportunities like that and these will definitely help me in my future career, kind of stepping stones as I look towards my future and what do I wanna do, and I’ve been able to have these experiences to kind of give me.
A basis of, oh, this is what this could look like, or what this career path could look like for me, or what doors may be available to me. And so that has been, there’s been a lot of really great opportunities like that, and I’m still figuring out exactly what I wanna do. Obviously I’m only 19, so there’s no way to know.
Even if I planned everything down to the minute, it still wouldn’t work out that way. But, I do definitely intend to keep being involved with these different foundations who have helped my family so much, and I know they’ve helped so many [00:38:00] others, and so that is something that I, I definitely want to keep with me as I look to the future.
Scott DeLuzio: And I’m, I’m 42 and I, some days I still don’t know what I wanna be when I grow up, so you have plenty of time to figure
Megan Taylor: Yes, exactly. Exactly.
Scott DeLuzio: You know, so, but one thing I I think, you know, for, for you is you know, certainly those connections that you’re making through various organizations that you are doing work with keep those connections. Because one thing I’ve, I’ve come to find in my own life is you never know when. That connection from 10 years ago might just come across as being like a, you know, a perfect opportunity for the two of you to, you know, get together.
Maybe it’s a business venture or whatever the case may be. It may just be a, a perfect opportunity in the future. Right now, maybe it doesn’t seem like it really makes a whole lot of sense that like, why am I even meeting this person? What do we, what [00:39:00] do we have to offer for each other? But you know, when.
Time goes on, those things kind of evolve and you, you eventually will get to that point where you know, maybe maybe there is some opportunity. And so, and I I’m mentioning that too because I know just through my experience and from hearing about your experience and others, that there are a lot of people who connect with Gold Star families.
And for the listeners who might be in that type of situation where they’ve made a lot of connections, keep those connections utilize those connections. You never know when eventually those connections are going to be mutually beneficial, where you, you’re able to help each other out with, with one thing or another.
So, the, those are I think important connections to have important connections to keep, before we wrap up though today is there anything, any last kind of message or, you know, comments or anything like that, that you might want to share with the listeners? Could be about anything, you know, maybe about more about your experience, more about, you know, [00:40:00] perspective and your, your goals for the future or really anything, just anything that you might wanna share with the listeners to maybe help them navigate a similar journey.
Megan Taylor: Yeah. I would say for anyone going through something similar, a time of grief or loss, in whatever context it may be, just remember that there are people there for you and not to push those people away. Sometimes it can be a little bit. Hard to reach out to others and have these kinds of conversations, even like the one you and I are having right now.
But I think that’s so important and that is a way that you can really heal internally and you can also help others by sharing your journey. I. So I think that that has been something I’ve learned. And then finally, I just like to thank all members in or out of the uniform, everyone who has served Scott, you and for everyone else who has done that.
It means a lot to me and I [00:41:00] really do appreciate it, and I know that many others do, even though it might seem difficult at times and and public opinion may sway, but I always appreciate that very greatly.
Scott DeLuzio: Well, we appreciate. People like you who recognize that service and make it so that we don’t have to come home the way, you know, Vietnam veterans came home to being called names and being spit on and all those disgusting types of things that, that took place way back when. I know for, for me anyways, I am especially grateful when, when people like yourself, you know, come to us and, and thank us for our service.
It. It makes me feel like, well, you know, thank God I’m here instead of back then. You know, in serving, serving at this point in, in life in instead of years ago. You know, when public perception was definitely different. And you never know. Those, those things could I. Could shift too. And so [00:42:00] it’s not something I, I take for granted.
And that’s why I want to thank you for your, your perspective. And I, I do that with everybody who thanks me. It’s, it’s a weird thing. Usually when you get thanked the, the. Common response is, you’re welcome. And you know, but, but for me it’s like, no, thank you.
Megan Taylor: Bounce
Scott DeLuzio: Now, now we’re in a circular loop. We’re just gonna continue.
Megan Taylor: keep going.
Scott DeLuzio: Anyways, well thank you for taking the time to come on the show. I know you know, sometimes, like you said, talking about this topic is not an easy topic to talk about, but you did it with, you know, a lot of courage and you did it you know very well, and, and were able to provide the listeners and myself with a little glimpse behind the curtain of who your father was who, what he meant to your family.
And I. And just the impact that he had, not just on you and your family, but on your community and on, on the country as a whole. And so, thank you for taking the time to come on the show and sharing all of that. I really do appreciate really do appreciate [00:43:00] everything from you. So thank.
Megan Taylor: Yeah. Well thanks for the opportunity again, bounce back again.