Sgt Russell Clayton, from Janesville, MN passed away 12 Sept 2007. He served his country for six years in the United States Marine Corp. and was involved in the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

Russell Claytons wife Sue asked the Patriot Guard to stand at her husband's funeral and escort the body to the cemetery. Saturday morning 25 brave MN Patriot Guard members braved the chilly weather, many of them riding from up to an hour away in temps in the low 30's. We staged 19 bikes and 4 cages at the Expressway/BP Gas station in Janesville, MN at 9:00 and rode the short distance to the church at 9:30. We set up our flag lines before the family arrived and stood in the flag line during the 10:00 visitation until the funeral started at 11:00. After the funeral we formed a semi-circle around the entrance to the church until the body was carried to the hearse. We escorted the body to the edge of Janesville and parted the bikes as the hearse went to the St Ann's Catholic Cemetery. We did not go to the cemetery due to a gravel road that was in poor condition. The family was very pleased to have us there. Russ was a local HOG member and his son rode his dad's Harley, just ahead of the hearse, to the cemetery.

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Al DeKruif
Mankato Ride Captain