WESTBROOK – As Veterans Day draws near, fallen Westbrook U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Lawrence Roukey is being honored this week at the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Patriots’ Memorial in Washington, D.C., for protecting the agency’s workers in Iraq in 2004.
Roukey, who was killed on April 26, 2004, by a large explosion while performing site security in Baghdad, was to be honored on Thusday, Nov. 7, along with three other veterans who died serving their country in Iraq.
The Defense Intelligence Agency Patriots’ Memorial honors civilian employees and military service members assigned to the agency who have died in the line of duty.
Others being honored include Sgt. Sherwood Baker, Pennsylvania Army National Guard; Sgt. Don Clary, Kansas Army National Guard; and Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wisdom, Kansas Army National Guard.
Ryann Roukey, the widow of Lawrence, said Tuesday that she is looking forward to spending a few days in Washington with their 12-year-old son, Nick. She said Nick was only 4 the last time her husband received a posthumous honor, at Fort Dix, N.J., where a building was dedicated in Roukey’s honor.
“I don’t think (Nick) really remembers anything about it, so I really wanted to make sure he came along this time and really got to experience it,” she said.
A longtime postal worker, Roukey was beloved by his co-workers, first at the former sorting facility on Forest Avenue in Portland and then at the new U.S. Postal Service sorting facility in Scarborough, which paid tribute to Roukey by designating their driveway “Roukey Way” in 2006.
Ryann Roukey, a Westbrook resident, said Nick was only 2 when his father died, adding that he is excited about the trip to Washington.
“When we get down there Wednesday we’re going to do some sightseeing,” she said. “He’s really excited to see everything and experience everything.”
She said she found out about the ceremony in September, but that the government shutdown put a damper on officially making their travel plans until just a few days ago.
Jacob Breach, communications operations specialist for the Defense Intelligence Agency, said that the last recipients of this honor died during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
“These will be the first names to be placed in the memorial since we lost seven employees during the attack on the Pentagon,” he said.
Ryann Roukey said that this fact made the honor even more meaningful.
She said she is grateful that her husband is being remembered and that she honors him each day. She said that for the five or six years following his death, she attended every ceremony she was invited to, but that it was only when things started to slow down that she could genuinely complete the grieving process.
“I felt like during that time I hadn’t really got a chance to grieve because I was doing a lot,” she said. “In one way or another, I honor him every day, so it doesn’t necessarily take a ceremony like this for me to know he’s being remembered.”
Thursday’s ceremony is taking place in the main lobby of the Defense Intelligence Agency’s headquarters in Washington. The ceremony will consist of a speech given by Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, agency director; a video tribute; and color guard presentation of memorial wreaths. Family members will also receive mementos from the memorial. The ceremony will be followed by a luncheon.
For Ryann Roukey, the importance seems to lie in seeing their son experience the ceremony. She said Tuesday that Nick will receive the memento in memory of his father.
According to Breach, colleagues in the agency nominated the four veterans and the agency’s director completed the nominations.
“We wanted to honor these four military members who gave their lives in defense of our groups that were overseas,” Breach said.
Lawrence Roukey, along with team member Baker, was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom while protecting members of the Iraq survey group, which was a collection of Defense Intelligence Agency analysts working in Baghdad.
The team, known as a mobile collection team, was conducting a field inspection of anti-coalition forces. Roukey and Baker, while providing security, were also inspecting suspected chemical and biological weapon sites. An explosion at one of the sites claimed both soldiers.
He had only been in Iraq for six weeks, and it was only three weeks past his 33rd birthday. He was the ninth serviceman with ties to Maine to die in Iraq.
A CLOSER LOOK
In Westbrook, the Stephen W. Manchester Post 62 of the American Legion will observe Veterans Day with a ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, at Riverbank Park on Main Street in Westbrook.
Mayor Colleen Hilton will deliver a proclamation, and Philip LeClerc, post commander, will serve as master of ceremonies.
Prior to the observance, Post 62 officers will lead a roll call of veterans at 8 a.m. at Gorham House, 50 New Portland Road, in Gorham. The post will hold a similar event at Birchwoods at Canco in Portland following the park observance in Westbrook.
In Gorham, the Veterans Day ceremony is set for 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, at Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St.
The plaque for fallen Westbrook Army Reserve Sgt. Lawrence Roukey will be added to the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Patriots’ Memorial Nov. 7. Roukey’s widow Ryann, and son, Nick will be attending the ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Sgt. Lawrence Roukey
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