The funeral was unlike any I have ever been to. A perfect blend of representation of the Anchorage Fire Department and the Marine Corps. The video montage, photos and speakers were something I will never forget. It was like a gift from Elliott just to be there and listen to people talk about him. He strived to be the best, but very humbly, while doing it. He was the epitome of an awesome Firefighter, Marine, husband, son, brother, uncle & friend. He made you want to be more like him, a better person. He had a way of making everyone feel comfortable, and bringing out the laughs as well. He was someone who loved his God and served him faithfully. He was, in all sense of the word; Perfect.
It rocked our firefighter family to the core. To lose someone so wonderful, so young, and someone everyone seems to know, in a blink of an eye. I am sure everyone of us held our love ones tighter, said the things they were meaning to say, and no longer worried about the small stuff. I, for one, found myself thinking "why stress about this? Cause Elliott's young widowed wife, Lacey, would probably give anything to have the chance to be even thinking about what I was worrying about."
Most of our firefighter friends have never been to a firefighter funeral, especially one in that magnitude. Even our city mayor attended, although, several people noticed him drifting off to sleep. To see all of our men in their Class A uniforms sitting together in unison with red teary eyes, sucked the air out of my lungs. And all the wives, sitting together supporting each other through their tears grieving for his family and our own personal loss. We were surprised how many friends we knew from other circles (hockey, school, Marines) that came to the service. He obviously touched so many lives in his short life.
This is a family. A very tight family. Unlike anything else you will never, ever experience with any other job. Just as these firefighters work to help others on the job, they LOVE to help each other off the job. It is in their blood. So one of our own needs a deck/roof/help moving etc., 10 guys show up. A wifes' car won't start, call anyone off duty and they are there like AAA, or as my hubby tells me "So & So NEEDS someone to go with him fishing, I have to take one for the team (with a grin.) Elliott's family needs us, so even in our own grief, we are there, holding his widow's hand, listening, sharing memories, and of course cooking, cause firefighters are good at that too. It makes us feel better too. And every one of us knows that if things were different, Elliott and Lacey would have been the 1st ones to be there for you. They had asked for firefighters and spouses to come help set up and bring food for the food gathering they were having afterward the service. I have never seen so many people show up to help, that there was nothing to do, because it all got done in a very short while. At one point someone asked if anyone could take out the trash, 5 guys jumped up to take out 1 trash can! And the food! There was so much food, and good food for people to comfort themselves with afterwards. Here in this family, you ask for help you get more help than you ever wanted.
We take care of our own. To be part of this family is an honor and a privilege and Lacey will ALWAYS be part of this family. She is a young widow, now without health insurance, or a job as she is a college student trying to better her life, but now to also support herself. She could use any and all support you can give. I can tell you it would be more than appreciated.
Donations can be made to the Elliott L. Taylor Benefit Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo Bank. The account number is 7553161261. Thank you for your generosity ♥
