SSGT Darin ‘Taylor’ Hoover Memorial 5K a success

Special event draws crowd from across the community

By DON WILBURN

news@theeveningtimes.com

Around 50 participants crossed the _nish line on a sweltering Saturday morning past for the inaugural SSGT Darin “Taylor” Hoover Memorial 5k, and 100 more were present, along with food venders and live music to honor the memory of Staff Sargent Hoover who was one of the 13 American soldiers killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul during the U.S. withdrawal of Afghanistan.

“The outpour of love and support that we have gotten from Arkansas, especially West Memphis, from Utah to Missouri, from governors to people all over the country, it’s been extraordinary,” said Kelly Barnett, Staff Sargent Hoover’s mother.

It was a year ago, Aug. 26, 2021, that those 13 American soldiers gave the ultimate sacri_ce when they were killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul, Afghanastan. Those killed were: Marine Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover; Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo; Marine Sgt. Nicole L. Gee; Marine Cpl. Hunter Lopez; Marine Cpl. Daegen W. Page; Marine Cpl. Humberto A.Sanchez; Marine Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza; Marine Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz; Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum; Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola; Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui; Navy Hospital Man. Maxton W. Soviak; and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.

See 5K, page A3

Patriotic red, white and blue smoke signaled the start of the day’s celebration and commemoration.

Photos by Don Wilburn 5K

United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover, who was 31 at the time of his death, was a West Memphis native and nephew of native local pastor Jeremey Soto and his wife Heather, who both serve the local community, at Victory Church of the Mid-South. in Marion.

In an effort to honor Hoover and his comrades and to help ensure they will not be forgotten, his family and their supporters launched a scholarship program. They have already held a number of events over the summer in support of the scholarship effort, but this weekend’s “13 Angels of Kabul SSGT. Taylor Hoover Memorial 5k” was the culmination of a months-long effort to support the establishment of the SSGT Darin Taylor Hoover Memorial Scholarship fund.

West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon joined in honoring the soldier and his sacrifice, declaring Friday, Aug. 26 as Darin Hoover Day, saying that a sign will be placed on Missouri Street for the next 100 years in memory of Hoover.