This Saturday, Sept. 26 a memorial service will be held for a former NMU student who was killed in the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon.

A 1985 alumni, Lt. Colonel Kip Taylor served in the United States Army for nearly 16 years before he died. According to the Arlington National Cemetery Web site, Taylor was working as an executive officer in the Army’s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, when the terrorist attack occurred. Taylor’s brother, Dean, said that even though it has taken eight years to conduct a proper funeral service, he is proud and happy that it is happening.

“I don’t have any bad feelings about it,” said Taylor. “I think it’s really great that everyone’s going through the steps to conduct this. It warms my heart to hear that people are working so hard to make this happen.”

Taylor said he remembers Kip for being a best friend, a father and a brother.

“He and I were lifelong best friends. Because we were army brats, we moved around so much that we had to rely on each other,” said Taylor. “He was a good guy, extremely funny and always fun to be around. He was a fantastic officer who was not only very well respected, but also well liked. I never ran into anybody that had anything but good words to say about him.”

While attending NMU, Kip participated in ROTC and was also on the basketball team.

“Kip Taylor was more than just an ROTC cadet,” said Major Kyle Rambo. “A lot of this has to represent what Kip Taylor did when he was on campus. He was an outstanding student who was a strong part of the basketball team, and also very active both in school and in his service with the ROTC.”

Northern’s military science department has been joining up with the community as well as local organizations in planning the commemorative reception.

“There’s a lot of people on campus who have either served or went to school with Kip,” said Rambo. “Everybody responded when we sought help for this. This included those who knew him and those who didn’t — facilities, trade department, conference and catering, you name it. A lot of people are stepping up to help make this important.”

The reception ceremony will take place at 12:15 p.m., at the Veteran’s rock outside the University Center. The service will include a speech by Les Wong and the unveiling of a memorial plaque in Kip Taylor’s name. Following that, a post-memorial reception will be held at the American Legion: Post 44 at 700 West Bluff street.