Major Russell Hayes to be Guest Speaker at Arthur American Legion Memorial Day Services

Major Russell Hayes, Executive Officer of the 766 Brigade Engineer Battalion based in Decatur, IL., will be the guest speaker at this year’s annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 30 at 11 a.m. at the Arthur Cemetery.

As the Battalion Executive Officer, Hayes is the battalion commander’s principle assistant and assumes command when the commander is not present. He is responsible for coordinating, synchronizing, and supervising the battalion staff.

Major Hayes’ previous assignments included battalion operations officer, battalion logistics officer, company commander, maintenance control officer and platoon leader among other key development assignments.

Hayes joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 2011 and received his commission as a Quartermaster Officer in 2012. He deployed in support of operations in Iraq in 2020.

Russell is the son of Wade and Angie Hayes and a 2006 graduate of Arthur High School. He played football all four years and was voted MVP at the 2005 fall sports banquet. Hayes received the Defensive Player of the Year, Sportsmanship awards and was selected unanimously for two positions on the LOVC All-Conference Teams plus one position on the News-Gazette’s All-Area Team.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Millikin University and he and his wife Katelynn (Eads) reside in Decatur.