Jun 08
30
This Fourth of July, one Suncoast family really has a reason to celebrate. After spending the past ten months on the front lines in Iraq, 1st Lt. Allen Taylor will spend this holiday at home in Bradenton.
First Lt. Taylor was supposed to arrive Tuesday for a short leave before returning to Iraq. Instead, he surprised his mom Sunday night by arriving two days early. We visited the Taylor home Monday, and it was packed with family and friends. And they all say this will be a 4th of July celebration like no other.
Most of us shoot off fireworks, wave flags and raise our voices in song to celebrate being Americans. 1st Lt. Taylor, also known as Jerry, takes his love for his country one step further. He's an officer in the U.S. Army.
He shows his family what his life is like in Iraq. "The gear I have on is about 70 pounds, and with the doors and every thing, it's really hard to maneuver when you're in there."
Taylor has been embedded with Iraqis. He lives in a building with them, teaching them military skills, training them to take over their own defense. "Basically we work hand to hand with Iraqis to help them improve their army system."
His mom has great plans for him on the 4th. "His godbrother is having a big cookout in Sarasota for him, so it's going to be really great this year. We're celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, his birthday, and my birthday all in one," says Maxine Taylor.
And both Allen and his sister Amy say no matter how the family celebrates Independence Day, this year will have a deeper meaning. "This holiday never felt that important to me, as it does now. Because I really do believe in the cause. Independence is very serious and it's freedom. And that's what we're over there for, to protect our freedom from anybody that'd try to take it from us."
And as the young soldier gathers his nieces and nephews around him, he says thinking of them helps him go on sometimes when things get rough. "This is what I'm inspired by as well. I know they look up to me, and I want them to follow in my footsteps. If not in the military, then in something positive."
1st Lt. Allen "Jerry" Taylor plans to make the Army his career. He says he first fell in love with all things military in Jr. ROTC at Booker High. He went on to graduate from MCC, University of S. Florida, and he's now working on his master's degree. A true Suncoast hero.
Tags: 1st Lt. Allen Taylor, Bradenton, Soldiers
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