Dear Boston & all Red Sox fans,

I am writing in hopes that you will be able to help me provide a little happiness to my three nephews who lost their father in a tragic accident on July 4th, 2008

Mason (10), Weston (9), & Jackson (4) had a hero. Not a celebrity, not a sports star, not a rock star. Their hero was their father James W Taylor Jr.

An Emergency RN who served in the Army Reserves, James spent every free moment he had with his family. The boy’s favorite time with their father was playing baseball with him. Next in line was watching the Red Sox play. Even if the game had to be recorded and watched later due to their father’s hectic schedule at the ER, they made it a point not to miss a game.

James had planned for his 37th birthday to take his sons to Boston to see a ‘real’ Red Sox Game. The trip would be long, coming from SLC, UT but it would be worth it. They would sit and have hot dogs, heckle the visiting team, visit with the fans of Boston, maybe get an autograph, and just enjoy the moment together.

James took a job about a year ago as a Life Flight nurse. Once a month, he would make the over 500 mile commute from SLC, UT to Page, AZ. James had found his true calling. He loved flying to try and save lives. He frequently would text pictures to his family flying over the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell. Seeing things no one else could see, and bringing hope to those who had little chance of survival.

On June 29th, 2008, while celebrating at a family birthday party, James family received tragic news. The life flight helicopter James was on had been involved in a mid-air collision with another Life Flight helicopter over Flagstaff, AZ. Six were dead, and James was the only survivor, but was in extremely critical condition.

His wife, sons, & family rushed to Flagstaff to be by his side. Upon arrival they were given the extent of James injuries. Almost every bone in his body including facial bones was broken, James was unrecognizable and the outlook was grim.

Due to the extent of his injuries, James’s sons were not allowed into the ICU to see their father. Staying in the ICU waiting room they prayed their father would pull through, and by some miracle would be OK.

As things got worse, James’s sons were allowed to come in to see their father to say good-bye. Five minutes later, James was gone. He died the morning of July 4th, 2008, the perfect day for an All-American dad.

Mason, James oldest son, stayed with his father afterwards, holding his hand and watching clips of baseball on the sports channels. His grandfather stayed with him, trying to find the words to comfort his grandson. Mason looked up at his grandpa with tears in his eyes and said, “Now I will never get to see a real Red Sox game with my dad.” His grandfather gathered Mason into his arms and promised him that somehow our family would get him to Boston to see a Red Sox game. His dad would not be able to be with him physically, but would always be with him in spirit and in his heart.

I am writing in hopes that there will be someone, somewhere that will read this story. Somehow, someway our family will find a way to get my brothers boys to a Red Sox game. With all the expenses of the funeral, we know that we may need help to try and make this the most memorable game we can for these boys. Someone reading this somewhere may be able to help, or maybe they know someone who knows someone who thinks they can help. Maybe you are a fan, a player, a little league coach, or a father who knows the feeling already of taking your sons to a professional ball field and watching your favorite players on the field.

As a sister of James, I am asking anyone who thinks they can help, or have any ideas to please contact me.

This letter is not meant to bring feelings of pity, but hopes that my nephews will be able to see that despite all that has happened to them in their young lives, there is still good in the world, and still things to look forward to. Their father would want them to live their lives to the fullest, just as he did. To always go after their dreams, despite hardships on the way. To reach for the stars, for it is there that their father awaits them.

Thank you Boston, we hope to be hearing from you soon.

Proud Sister of James W Taylor Jr.

Laurie (Taylor) Brady

Hi Laurie,

I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to your brother, and the fact that your nephews will grow up without their dad. I hope that someone out there will be able to help you with your quest to get the boys to a game.

And, I'm sure there will be people who doubt your story (sadly, people DO make up sob stories to try and get tickets)... I hope you don't mind but I found a link to an article just verifying your story so that will quiet any nay-sayers. www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/postid/917356/view/topic/Default.aspx

Again, condolences to you and your family!

Thanks LoveMySox,

I didn't even think to post something to verify our story, so I appreciate you taking the time to read and help us out.

Thank you for the support, we will keep hoping something comes through.

Laurie

You might like to mail this story directly to the Red Sox.

To
Boston Red Sox
4 Yawkey Way
Boston MA. 02215

If you have any verifing documents about the accident to include copies of with the story might be an idea to.

Not originals but copies.

www.legacy.com/DeseretNews/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=113009179

Please go to this website if you would like to verify my brothers story. As there are also numerous stories on the internet regarding the helicopter crash over flagstaff

That's a good idea to mail the story to the Sox directly with copies of the story. Hopefully they will be able to do something to help out your nephews. It's such a sad story!

Again... my deepest condolences!

Laurie,

First, I'd like to add my condolences to you and the entire family of James W. Taylor Jr. in their time of loss and sorrow and thank you for posting this message to the RSN. I heard about this accident in the news when it happened but had no idea there was any 'Red Sox connection' at the time.

I've taken the liberty of dropping by the Sons of Sam Horn website and PM'ing the first post of this thread and a few of the verification links to a very cool moderator at the website in hopes that he will share the story there in some way and possibly find some help for you in your request. They are a very reputable group of Red Sox fans with huge hearts and better means than I to help, so hopefully a positive result will occur. James W. Taylor Jr. sounds like a true American hero to me and helping his kids fullfill a dream of attending a game at Fenway would be wonderful respite for them in their time of sorrow.

I certainly hope this does help in some way. Peace.

Geoffrey Davis (aka. boodasbud)

Geoffrey,

Wow, thank you so much. I appreciate so much the fact that you took the time to read the posting and offer whatever help you could.

I have total faith that if this story gets into the right hands things are going to happen.

Thank you for forwarding my brothers story to those you think might be able to help.

Laurie

My condolences to to you and your family Lauie.

I know if this story lands in the right hands, there is a lot of kindness, goodness and generosity in people who could help you.

Best of luck and God Bless you and your family.

It was the least I could do for the family since I had the connection. I'll check over there on a daily basis to see what kind of response it I get. Sometimes the mods there are busy and they get many PMs, so it may take a little while before any response comes. I also thought Ted's idea of writing the Red Sox was a good one, but make sure you include the Memorial Fund information if you do. It may help.

I'm just an "ex-brat" from a military family who grew to love the Red Sox one summer long ago living in Mesa, Arizona while my father was away at war and I helped my grandmother write to him about the "Impossible Dream" team. Those kids deserve some sort of positive outcome and if what little I did helps this happen that is all the thanks I really need, but I appreciate you thanking me.

I hope you and the family have a good day today. I think James would look down from heaven and like that.

Got to go now... thunderstorms hitting here... ;-)

Laurie...

Can you outline how many people would need to come to Boston and what dates might work? With this information in hand, it might be possible to get something put together for you.

Tru (Tom)

TruBlu,

The most important people are my nephews and their mom and their grandpa(James' dad) so 5 We would like for other family members to go, but right now they are the ones that are number one priority.

Thank you for anything you might be able to help with. This means so much to our family.

Originally they were going to go around the end of August for my brothers birthday, so we wanted to try for around there, but would go any dates.

Laurie

Are all five coming from the same place? What dates would work for all? I'm guessing a couple of days in Boston, capping it off with a game would work.

Specifically, is it ticket access, hotels and travel assistance you need, or some portion?

All of our family are from Salt Lake City, UT

We are mostly looking for some great seats, and I am hoping that somehow we can maybe arrange to meet a player, or get an autograph, or maybe a tour of the stadium. If we are able to arrange help with the other things, that is great, but to us the most important is the game.

I know that is asking for a lot, but I just want to make this as special as I can for my nephews since their dad can't be with them. Something to make things a little more amazing then it is already going to be.

Thank you so much, just the fact that you are responding and keeping this discussion going helps.

All of you have been so great!