Roy Exum: Come Meet Taylor Morris

  • Sunday, May 31, 2015
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum

The star of the greatest love story ever will be in Chattanooga this Friday when the second annual American Heroes Dinner will be held at The Chattanoogan hotel. The love story is no more than a collection of photos and all you have to do is watch to “read” the story. Hint: You’ll need Kleenex.

Taylor and his beautiful wife Danielle have agreed to help Andrew Smith and his beautiful wife Tori raise money for Wounded Warriors through The Honoring the Sacrifice Foundation, which Andrew and Tori put together to aid severely-wounded men and women who suffer life-threatening and life-changing injuries while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

When I say that Danielle Morris and Tori Smith are beautiful, that is very true.

But true beauty coms from within and both of these young women will never forget the phone call telling them “something very bad has happened.” Taylor is one of five men who are quadruple amputees who have survived from explosive injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. Andrew’s legs were blown off on his first patrol in Afghanistan.

But the greatest story is the love that both of these warriors have received. The pictures of Taylor, and the love between him and Danielle, have gone viral, with literally millions sharing them, and the story of a huge army of Chattanoogans building a house for Andrew will always serve as a living testament to the type of people who make this area “the most wonderful place on earth,” as Andrew said the day he first saw the amazing house built by Steps2Hope geniuses.

Today is the deadline for tickets to the colossal event which will feature a talk by Lt. General W.G. “Jerry” Boykin, an original member of the Delta Force and later the commander of all elite units in the Army as well as Special Welfare Center and School. General Boykin has endured being shot by a 50-caliber bullet and sustained major injuries in a lop-sided battle in Mogadishu, later made famous by the movie classic, “Black Hawk Down.”

Because ‘Honoring The Sacrifice’ doesn’t want to waste a single plate, reservations must be made today. Those wanting to make reservations can do so by going to the website, www.honoringthesacrifice.org, or by calling event chairman Todd Smith (Tori’s father) at 423-593-0179 or Tori at 423-645-4537. Time is of the essence.

As of Saturday 39 tables have been sold but organizers are hoping to have 50 with an emphasis put on Armed Forces’ veterans and their families. “It is a very patriotic event and very moving to see people are eager to help our Wounded Warriors. I am tremendously proud of the forward approach Tori and Andrew have taken,” Todd said.

On May 3, 2012, Taylor Morris was an Explosive Ordinance Disposal technician working for the Navy. Stationed out of Virginia Beach, the athletic Cedar Fall, IA, native had been deployed to Afghanistan when his whole world went ‘Boom!” Amazingly, he stayed alert after losing both legs, his left arm from the bicep down, ad his right hand. He immediately got his team partner to call Danielle and his family, this after having him promise to “tell them everything.”

He finally was airlifted to Walter Reed Military Hospital in Washington which is where he met Chattanooga’s Andrew Smith and a strong friendship developed.

“Taylor is determined to conquer anything and this will be no different,” Danielle told reporters at the time. "He will continue to be the Taylor John we all know and love. His recovery will be long a grueling but hard work and determination is nothing Taylor has ever shied away from. He is the most loyal and loving person I have ever known, so I ask everyone to ‘be there’ for him.

“I am well aware this is a devastating situation that no one should ever go through, but we can make it through this and we’ll come out stronger on the other side!,” he promised at the time and today truer words were never spoken.”

Now I am asking people in Chattanooga to ‘be there’ for two Wounded Warrior buddies, Taylor Morris and our own Andrew Smith. But remember to buy your tickets today or it will be too late.

royexum@aol.com

Opinion
Capitol Report From State Rep. Greg Vital For March 28
  • 3/28/2024

Budget becomes central focus in final weeks of 113th General Assembly Members of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee this week were briefed by Finance and Administration Commissioner ... more

Senate Republican Caucus Weekly Wrap March 28
  • 3/28/2024

This week on Capitol Hill lawmakers were hard at work passing meaningful legislation to improve the lives of Tennesseans as the General Assembly begins to wind down. Public safety was a big focus ... more