The High School Hallway – Brett Remembers Fallen Marine, Josh Taylor

We have friends, and friends-of-friends, and people we know just from around the office or in the hallway between classes. I had one of those friends of a friend.

He was probably the most polite person I have ever met, extremely well spoken, well dressed and got along with everyone. If someone were to ask me what I thought of when I heard the word ""polite," my mind would go straight to my friend of a friend, the guy that I saw between English and Math back in high school, the guy that said “Hey Brett!” every day with the warmest heart.

No, he and I weren’t best friends, nor did we see each other outside of the Marietta, Ohio High School walls — we weren’t even friends on Facebook. But it seems only when they are gone, you realize how great of a person they really were...

Josh Taylor was the friend of a friend; the good guy and the 7:50 a.m. hand shake that I knew for only two years. Josh graduated from Marietta High School in 2010 and served in the Marines. During a training exercise in Nevada, Josh was among seven that were killed by a mortar shell explosion Monday.

My deepest condolences to Josh's parents Jennifer and Robert, his sisters and brother, and fiancee Abbey. As well as to all the family and friends who lost loved ones during Monday's accident.

And to you Josh... I'm sorry, buddy.

Who is in your hallway?  Stop and say "hey."