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County OKs Gold Star Families memorial plaza at courthouse, MOU ties private foundation to construction
Summary
The Box Elder County Commission approved Agreement #26-09 with the Major Brent Taylor Leadership Legacy Foundation to install a granite Gold Star Families Memorial Plaza at the courthouse. The foundation and Whitaker Construction will fund and build the monument; the county will accept long-term ownership and maintenance after completion.
The Box Elder County Commission on March 25 unanimously approved Memorandum of Understanding #26-09 with the Major Brent Taylor Leadership Legacy Foundation to install a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument and plaza adjacent to the historic Box Elder County Courthouse.
Jenny Taylor, founder of the Major Brent Taylor Leadership Legacy Foundation and a Gold Star widow, described the monument as a granite plaza honoring families who have lost loved ones in military service. "There is not a single name on it as it is a memorial honoring all of the loved ones' service," Taylor said, adding that "the price of freedom still remains very high." The foundation will coordinate procurement of monument panels through the Hershel "Woody" Williams Medal of Honor Foundation and work with Whitaker Construction as a primary contractor and donor partner.
Under the MOU, the foundation is responsible for fundraising and construction; Box Elder County will authorize use of the courthouse property for construction, review and approve final site design, and accept ownership and long-term maintenance of the completed plaza. The project timeline in the MOU anticipates plaza groundwork and foundation construction in May 2026, installation of monument panels in October 2026, and a dedication in connection with Veterans Day 2026. The County Tourism Board has awarded MBTF a $20,000 grant to support the project, and the MOU states that no additional public construction funds are anticipated.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the agreement after the foundation's representatives described funding and the anticipated public dedication. The MOU states the monument will be County property upon formal acceptance and that the County may relocate or modify the plaza in the future if necessary. County staff said final legal instruments (a license or temporary use agreement) would be prepared by the County Attorney as required before construction begins.
