Norman Taylor laid to rest

Over a thousand people attended a memorial service Saturday, held for U.S. Army Sgt. Norman Taylor III, a Blythe resident and 2003 Palo Verde High School grad, who was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq on Oct. 17. Many more people lined the roads from Todd Park to the Colorado River Fairgrounds to pay their final respects as the funeral procession made its way past.

"Can you imagine the mess the world would be in if not for people like him?", said a woman with balloons in hand, waiting on Hobsonway for the motorcade that carried the remains of Taylor, the only Iraq war casualty from Blythe. "I'm supposed to be at work at 11 so I can't be at the service, but I'm going to pay my respects to him out here. If I'm late for work, let them fire me."

All of her bravado though, soon melted away as the funeral procession turned the corner at Broadway onto Hobsonway. Letting go of her balloons, the woman waved at the passing hearse and her eyes filled with tears for the man she had never met and would never know.

The scene replayed itself from the park to the fairgrounds as people stood somberly along the route, some with their hand across their chest, some with salutes; all there to pay their final respects to the 21-year-old kid who wanted to be a soldier and died fulfilling that dream.

But up and down the road, as the last car in the motorcade passed, they walked away in stunned silence, not sure of what to believe and equally unsure of what to do next.

The scene was the same at the fairgrounds, where friends acknowledged each other with only nods rather than handshakes, and few words were spoken between them. There were no words fit to describe the heaviness in the hearts of the people who attended

Maybe never has there been a more dignified affair held in Blythe, and in a town that never forgets to take care of its own, the people of Blythe acted with even greater honor and respect in their desire to revere the fallen sergeant.

The Palo Verde High School JROTC, of which Taylor was a former battalion commander, stood proud, lining both sides of the path the casket took on its way into the building, saluting as it made its way past them. Veteran members of the VFW and American Legion also stood in formation, saluting the casket as it passed them and entered the doorway.

The service was held as a celebration of Taylor's brief life and many spoke of his accomplishments.

"He was one of my kids, just like all of the JROTC are my kids," said Palo Verde High School JROTC instructor, 1st Sgt. Gerald Edwards. Edwards talked cheerfully of the young man he had "bonded" with and had guided toward a career of military service. But toward the end of his speech, the tough military veteran began to break down and he made a quick exit from the stage.

The feeling was the same with everyone in attendance, whether they knew Taylor or not. If they weren't in tears they spent the entire service fighting back tears, knowing the town had lost one of its children and that a Blythe family was suffering.

Taylor's close friend, Michael Morse, sang a couple of songs, the second of which was about the loss of a friend, a song that visibly touched the hearts of the audience.

A tribute was offered by Army Brigadier General John Miller who referred to Taylor as a "hero," and then a second tribute from an on-the-ground soldier, Spec. Doug Pearce, who described himself as Taylor's "best friend" in Iraq.

Taylor's father, Norman Taylor Jr., then took the stage and spoke of his son, tearfully reading a poem the younger Taylor had mailed to him prior to his death, describing the mind set of a soldier. And although his son had not written the ode, all who listened knew that it best described the beliefs of Norman Taylor III, who had enlisted in the military not to escape anything or seek better opportunities for himself, but solely to be a soldier, a cause he truly believed in.

Taylor lived and died protecting the values he had been raised with here in Blythe, and upon his return, Blythe tried its best to thank him.

The ceremony ended with the playing of Amazing Grace on the bag pipes by Matt Monnemacher. The casket was opened and the many friends and family touched by Taylor in his short life, walked by and said their last good byes.

Taylor was buried Monday at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside.

From the Palos Verdes Times

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