Megan Martinez organized a balloon launch for the first anniversary. Lot's of people came and it was a beautiful expression of how much people care for and remember Clayton. It was at the Derby football field where Clayton played with the Derby High School soccer team. I wasn't sure I wanted to do anything on the anniversary of Clayton's death but I'm glad I did. It helps a little to know that others care and that they won't forget Clayton. I think of you all day, every day, Clayton. 

The last thing Clayton's grandpa, Kenneth Akers, built  before he died was a cross to put at the intersection of 95th and Greenwich where we lost our beloved Clayton. After the cross was built and Kenny brought it to me, he and I went shopping and bought decorations for it. We planned to decorate and establish the cross together but plans often fall short of reality. Losing Kenny in July was another shock, another gut-wrenching blow.
The cross and all the decorations were in my apartment for months but with the help of Patsy Hanson Penner and Megan Martinez I got the cross decorated on October 12th and 13th and on the 13th we put up the cross at the intersection just in time to go to the balloon launch at the football field in Derby, where Clayton played soccer for Derby High School.  
Thank you for the cross, Kenny. I hope we did it justice. It's a relief to have finished this labour of love, which even so, is just a small sign of our never ending love for Clayton.  

Hillary posted this on Facebook on October 13, 2014. I hope it's okay to put it here. I don't want to lose it. 

Last winter this anniversary seemed so far away and here it is already. For a minute I thought I'd just slide by it and not put any emphasis on it. I was thinking that every day is a day without Clayton so why should this one bother me more than any other? I guess that's just the nature of an anniversary. So many people have reached out to us, the love is overwhelming and we are thankful for it and each of you. There are a million things that have bruised my herniated feelings this last year, so many milestones were so close, a magical high school soccer season, his 18th birthday, senior prom, graduation, etc... All of those things passing by have been tough, but even tougher, hearing something and immediately wanting to tell him, receiving his senior yearbook with tribute on my birthday, his brother getting taller than he was and knowing how funny and mad he would have been about that. It’s the day I realized his room doesn’t smell like him anymore, that was a crappy day. Even through all of that there have been great things happen this last year. Some of the best times have been seeing all the wonderful young men and women I have met through Clayton playing soccer, performing in plays, pole vaulting, track meets, band, running off to college, them stopping by the house to say hi, getting a card in the mail. It's humbling and keeps us feeling connected. All I know is that in life there is great sadness and there is incredible happiness and everything in between. As odd as it seems we are capable of feeling that range almost all at once. I’m going to stick with happy as much as possible! Laugh and love every day!