Larry Roukey, the Army Reserve sergeant who was the first U.S. Postal Service employee in the nation to lose his life in Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq in 2004, was honored at a Veterans Day ceremony Saturday at the new Southern Maine Processing and Distribution Center in Scarborough.
Julius Locklear, Maine district manager, dedicated the driveway to the mail processing center as Roukey Way, and employees installed a sign in Roukey’s honor.
Roukey was an employee at the Portland Processing and Distribution Center and a retired member of the Army Reserves. But after Sept. 11, 2001, he re-enlisted in the Army Reserves, and was called up to serve in Iraq. He died in April 2004.
In dedicating the drive, Locklear said, “In 2001, Larry Roukey made a lasting impression on all who knew him, and he will always be remembered by postal employees here in Maine. And so, today, we are proud to dedicate this drive, leading from the street to our new processing and distribution center, in Larry’s memory.”
“Larry’s sacrifice,” said Locklear, “is emblematic of the contributions made by all veterans who serve in our nation’s military, and we sincerely appreciate the sacrifices they have made to preserve and defend the liberties we hold dear.”
Ryann Roukey, Larry’s widow, along with her son, Nicholas, and daughter, Sonja, joined over 200 postal employees at the ceremony, where residents of the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough were honored guests. Tammy Rosario, postmaster of Scarborough, was the master of ceremonies. Company A, First Battalion, 25th Marines did the honors, presenting the colors at the ceremony, and Gen. John Libby, commander of the Maine National Guard, was the keynote speaker.
Terry Wright and Ronald Sirois, military veterans who work at the mail processing center, laid a wreath at the flagpole in memory of all veterans, accompanied by trumpet soloist Doug Fair playing “Taps.” At the ceremony, a memorial garden by the flagpole was also dedicated in memory of all veterans. The garden will be planted this spring.
The Maine Postal Districtoukey, a mail processing center employee who was the first postal employee in the nation to die in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004. Residents of the Maine Veterans200 postal employees attended.
Ron Sirois, left, and Terry Wright, two U.S. Postal Service military veterans who work at the Southern Maine Processing and Distribution Center in Scarborough, lay a wreath in memory of all veterans at the Maine Postal District
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