By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
George Erik Taylor was a decorated soldier, known to his family as being rough around the edges with a soft gooey inside.
The Bowling Green High School alum was a wild card who lived life at full throttle. He loved playing bid euchre, cornhole, and spoons – turning the card game into a physical sport. He had mad mechanical skills. He was unorthodox, sprinkling conversations with middle fingers and F-bombs.
Taylor, 48, was loved, and he loved back just as hard.
But on June 16, 2024, the 23-year veteran of the Marines and Coast Guard, lost his way home. His family has watched the agonizing bodycam footage of Taylor pleading for help, asking law enforcement, “What does Wood County offer for veterans like me?”
Some moments later, Taylor turned his rifle toward officers, and a deputy fired one shot, killing the veteran.
His family is haunted by how a cry for help ended in Taylor’s death.
Taylor’s absence has left a gaping hole in his larger than life roles of husband, father, brother and uncle. And his family is turning their heartache into a program to help others like Taylor. In his honor, they have created the G.E.T. (George Erik Taylor) HOPE Veterans Foundation.
The organization’s goal is to connect local veterans to each other – to provide a feeling of community, hope and healing.
“We really want to rewrite his legacy,” said his niece, Ashleigh Hotz, of Bowling Green, who was just 10 years younger than her uncle. “He was like a brother. He was ornery. He had a great sense of humor – nobody was funnier than him.”
Taylor joined the Marines right out of high school, completing multiple tours to include Bahrain, Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valiant acts in the Marines, and was recognized by the Navy for his acts of servitude while deployed with the Coast Guard.
In 2017, he retired from the military and came home. Like so many veterans, he returned home with PTSD and a TBI (traumatic brain injury). Hotz said he never talked about his deployments, hiding his battle wounds with his infectious laughter and broad smile.
“He was suffering from the invisible wounds of service for you and I,” Hotz said of her uncle.
After returning home, Taylor did reach out for help – from veterans organizations and health institutions. But he didn’t get the help he needed, and in some cases, he was turned away, Hotz said.
“Our institutions failed him,” including the Veterans Administration, which is short on staff, and long on wait times, Hotz said.
His family and friends saw him turning his pain into positive actions for others. Taylor drove his motorcycle across the country, stopping at American Legions and VFW posts to raise awareness about veterans needing K9 service animals. A week prior to his death, Taylor was helping one of his nieces move out of an unhealthy situation.
A week later, he was in a dark place and reached out to a fellow veteran in another state. When they hung up, his friend was so worried he called the Wood County Sheriff’s Office asking for a wellness check for Taylor, who lived south of Bowling Green near Rudolph.
Despite efforts by law enforcement to de-escalate the situation, Taylor saw no way out of his darkness.
“It was a really tough time for our family,” Hotz said, with questions lingering about why local law enforcement does not have non-lethal ways to respond to struggling veterans.
“I felt a stirring in my soul,” Hotz said. “How can we help out local vets who are struggling? What would it look like to bring people together? What would stop this from ever happening again?”
The goal of the G.E.T. HOPE Veterans Foundation is to bridge the gap in Wood County by building a community where veterans can support one another, share experiences, and rediscover camaraderie in everyday life.
Many veterans find that after leaving the military, the strong bonds they once had with their fellow service members are difficult to replace in their hometown, Hotz said.
“Through shared events, peer mentorship, or just being there for one another, we’re creating spaces where veterans feel seen, valued, and never alone — far beyond the local watering holes,” Hotz said.
While there are many non-profit groups for veterans, Taylor’s family wants to fill in some obvious gaps in services – through a “wingman” program, monthly meetings, and group activities.
Comparing it to sponsors in AA, fellow veterans are being asked to volunteer as “wingmen” for veterans who are having difficulties. Sharing experiences with another veteran who understands what they’re going through can provide a sense of validation, reduce feelings of isolation, and offer valuable peer support, Hotz said.
“I have such high hopes for the program and how we can help people,” she said.
G.E.T. HOPE will also hold monthly meetings, with the next one set for Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m., in the Veterans Memorial Building in Bowling Green City Park. Motivational speaker and author Dustin Dale is the scheduled speaker. No registration is required.
And activities for local veterans are being scheduled, including kayaking, fishing, sporting events and more.
Volunteers are being sought to help with the foundation, including those who want to serve as wingmen, those who want to help with planning and communication, and businesses that might want to partner in the program.
“It’s not just for those who are hurting,” Hotz said. “You don’t have to be struggling. You can just be searching for community.”
More about the foundation can be found at gethope.vet.
