Fallen Utah Marine to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery

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SANDY — Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, who was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in a suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport in Afghanistan last month, will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

But before Hoover is laid to rest across the Potomac River from Washington, friends and family members will gather here in Utah this Saturday to honor his life.

Football players know the feeling of sacrifice, teamwork and being part of something bigger than yourself, which is why Hoover loved playing for Hillcrest High School.

"That was just him," said Taylor's father, Darin Hoover.

It's also why the school's football field is where a memorial service will be held this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. for people to say goodbye to him.

"It's just a remembrance of him and who he was. The big teddy bear, kind, loving, the man he became. The man and leader he became," Hoover said about his son.

Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover was the leader of a group of Marines when they were killed in a suicide bombing last month at a checkpoint outside the Kabul airport.

Hoover's father can't believe how much support the family has received.

"We've gotten cards and letters from all over the place," Darin Hoover said. "The outpouring of love and respect and everything from friends and teammates, especially the ones in the Corps. It's been phenomenal. Every corner of the state has literally reached out."

As well as all corners of the country, which is why Hoover's family decided to have him buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, so he can be at rest with other American heroes.

That service will be held on Friday, Sept. 24.

"He's a warrior. You know? They're all warriors," said Darin Hoover. "They all deserve that, whether the other families or not wanted to do it, we're going to make a family trip out of it every year now."

Just like football seasons, the memories of Taylor Hoover will continue.

"To me, it's brought a sense of community back. If that makes sense," said Darin Hoover. "It's brought a lot of people together."

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Alex Cabrero

Alex Cabrero has been reporting for KSL since 2004. During his time in Salt Lake City, he has covered several high-profile Utah stories, including the Crandall Canyon mine collapse, the Trolley Square shootings, and the Susan Powell missing person case. He has also covered national and international stories for KSL with Utah connections, such as Hurricane Katrina from the Gulf Coast, the devastating California wildfires, and the earthquake disasters in both Haiti and Nepal. Alex has covered seven Olympics for KSL; 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2014 Sochi, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2018 PyeongChang, 2020 Tokyo, and 2022 Beijing. Alex is a 12-time Emmy Award winner, including a National Emmy for his reporting during a standoff in Tennessee. He also won an Emmy in 2016 for the best local TV news reporter in the Rocky Mountain Region. In all, Alex has won more than 50 awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Utah Broadcasters Association. Before coming to Utah, Alex covered the September 11th terrorist attacks, training for the first wave of soldiers from the 101st Airborne who would be sent to Afghanistan, and Country Music star Johnny Cash’s funeral. Prior to KSL, Alex reported for WTVF in Nashville, TN; WRCB in Chattanooga, TN; KPVI in Pocatello/Idaho Falls, Idaho; News 55 in Twin Falls, Idaho; and Cable 6 TV in Middletown, New York. Alex is from Rock Hill, New York. He graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Communications from Orange County (NY) Community College and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Production from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Alex is an Eagle Scout, played college baseball, and was a volunteer firefighter/rescue SCUBA diver for the Rock Hill Fire Department He enjoys visiting National and State Parks, exploring the remote areas of Utah, and playing baseball for the Utah Rockies in the Utah Mens Adult Baseball League.