Honor the Hero Foundation and Major Brent Taylor Foundation partner to hoist the world’s largest free hanging flag over Coldwater Canyon 

OGDEN, UT, OCT. 30, 2023 – Hikers in Coldwater Canyon were treated to a spectacular sight as the world’s largest free hanging flag was unfurled overhead on Saturday, Oct. 28. The 400-pound flag was hoisted by the Honor the Hero Foundation and the Major Brent Taylor Foundation, in honor of Major Brent Taylor. Once the flag was flying, AirLife Utah did a special flyover in their medical helicopter. 

Taylor, who was the mayor of Ogden while also serving in Afghanistan as part of the National Guard, was killed in action on Nov. 3, 2018. When his body was returned to Ogden, a flag was flown in the canyon in his honor. Fundraising efforts started for the very special flag, called “The Major,” that now flies over the canyon. While it was the fifth anniversary of this meaningful tradition, it was the first time AirLIfe Utah participated in the flyover. It was a meaningful act for the crew as many of their teammates are veterans. 

“Being asked to participate in an event like this is a high honor,” said Erik Bornemeier, veteran and account executive with Air Methods, the leading air medical service provider in the country and parent company of AirLife Utah. “Honoring the American flag is important to us personally because there are a lot of people involved in this event that we know really well. From search and rescue to the Sheriff’s Office, to the person whom this flag is named after, we as a team have had the opportunity to meet some really heroic people and pay tribute to them. It Is a privilege to serve a community that makes it a point to show how important our nation’s flag is.” 

While “The Major” is named for one special serviceman, the ceremony to hang the flag each year honors all veterans. According to Kyle Nordfors with the Honor the Hero Foundation, every detail of the process to hoist the massive flag is a labor of love and respect for those who have served. 

“The lines the flag hangs from are pulled across the canyon by drones,” said Nordfors. “We then have 12 volunteers who carry the flag on their shoulders to the top of the canyon. Veteran volunteers, along with members of the Ogden Metro SWAT Team and Weber County Search and Rescue, help hoist the flag onto the lines. This is a very meaningful experience for everyone involved.” 

Since Saturday’s ceremony honored all veterans, five wounded warriors rode on horseback to the top of the canyon to see the flag unfurled. Meanwhile, approximately 20 veterans of the Vietnam War and World War II sat at the bottom of the canyon with speakers set up allowing them to hear what was said above them while the flag was hung. A bagpiper played the National Anthem while a band played on the canyon rim as the flag was unfurled. AirLife Utah crew members also had the opportunity to meet with the local veterans and attendees.  

The flag will hang over the canyon until Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2023. Each evening a different veteran will come to share a personal story and shine the light on the flag for the night.