Breakfast Shoppe’s ‘Taylor Wild Day’ Honors a Hero

Plenty of love, tears and patriotism could be seen at The Breakfast Shoppe Saturday as the restaurant celebrated 'Taylor Wild Day' with waffles and a check totaling more than $3,000 for Friends of the Fallen. 

After Lance Cpl. William Taylor Wild IV was killed during a training exercise March 18 in Nevada, The Breakfast Shoppe began collecting donations for Friends of the Fallen, a support group of volunteers located at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. On Saturday, a check totaling $3,215 was presented to the group that provides assistance to families of the fallen.

After Wild passed, Breakfast Shoppe owner Kyle Algaze asked Taylor’s father, Bill Wild, how they could help. Bill Wild recommended Friends of the Fallen.

“Friends of the Fallen is a very quiet and humble organization,” said Bill Wild during the check presentation Saturday. “They do an incredible job for families of the fallen. They are a tremendous group that takes care of you.”

Bill Wild said Friends of the Fallen were at Dover at 2 a.m. the day they went to retrieve Taylor’s body. They had brownies, a stuffed animal for Taylor’s sister Libby and offered unfailing support.

Algaze spoke during the check presentation on Saturday. He said Taylor and the Wild family were frequent visitors of The Breakfast Shoppe, and a part of their family.

“We get close to a lot of people here,” Algaze said, “When Taylor passed it affected a lot of people in the community.”

A big crowd gathered at The Breakfast Shoppe on Saturday. The Wild family sat at a large table in the center of the restaurant, surrounded by balloons, mini American flags and family.

The special for Taylor Wild Day was Taylor’s favorite—chicken and waffles.

“You have to be a Marine to eat those waffles—they are so good,” said Karen Mordus, president of Friends of the Fallen.

Mordus said Friends of the Fallen is a strictly all-volunteer organization that generally shies away from the spotlight in order to protect families that are grieving. However, when she heard about what The Breakfast Shoppe was doing, she knew they had to come.

“We are proud to be here, in the presence of a hero’s family,” Mordus said. “I can’t believe how much they raised, but I would have come even if it was just $1. I didn’t matter to me—they are recognizing a hero.”

After the check presentation was over, and cupcakes were passed out, Algaze stood in the back of the restaurant and looked on. He said the day left many people with mixed emotions. 

“It’s bittersweet—that’s the only way I can describe it,” he said. “It’s sweet to see people come out and support and great individual, but bitter because he’s not here.”

Check back for video of the check presentation.