Body of Bradenton Soldier Killed In Afghanistan To Return Saturday

Posted Aug 18, 2011 by Howard Altman

Updated Aug 18, 2011 at 01:20 PM

The body of U.S. Army Spc. 4 Patrick L. Lay, II, will be arriving at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport on Saturday, Aug. 20, at about 1 p.m.

The funeral procession will leave the airport and go north on US 41 to SR 70/53rd Ave. W., to the Life Covenant Sanctuary Church, 5428 39th St. W..

Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 P.M. Saturday at the church.  Funeral Service will be 11:00 A.M. at the church on Sunday.

From the church the funeral procession will proceed east on SR 70 to I 75 southbound to the Clark Rd. exit, 205, then eastbound to the Sarasota National Cemetery.

Lay, 21, died a week ago when an improvised explosive device detonated while serving with the elite U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division in southern Afghanistan. He was one of five soldiers who died when the roadside bomb exploded.

In March, Lay started his first tour in Afghanistan.

Lay lived in Bradenton and graduated from Braden River High, where he played football. He had plans to marry his fiancée next year.