Funeral held in Maine for soldier killed in Iraq

PORTLAND – Family and friends of a postal worker and Army Reserve soldier who was killed in a blast outside Baghdad last month gathered Friday for a funeral at the same church where he was baptized more than 30 years ago.

Sgt. Lawrence Roukey, 33, of Westbrook, who joined the Army Reserve after Sept. 11, 2001, was killed last month during an explosion in a Baghdad warehouse he was searching for chemicals. He died six weeks after arriving in Iraq.

In his hometown, Roukey’s death shook the community. There was standing room only in St. Joseph’s Church during the ceremony. Students from Deering High School, Roukey’s alma mater, held flags along the route to the cemetery.

“This crowd of folks from all walks of life have come to honor, remember and pray for this soldier,” said the Rev. Dan Bosco, standing before the flag-draped coffin. “We see here a marvelous sense of unity, temporary though it may be.”

During the services, Roukey’s family told stories about him as a young boy, when he would fill his sister’s dollhouse with GI Joe figurines who barricaded doors. They said that even when he was young, Roukey had a sense of duty.

A member of the 3rd Battalion, 304th Regiment based in Lewiston, Roukey was mobilized as an individual soldier. He was with the Mobile Collection Team, a small group of soldiers with the Iraq Survey Group who followed tips in search of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

“We’re all here today because of his selfless service. Though he would not have wanted all this, he deserved it,” said Capt. Michael King, a military liaison attending the funeral.

Roukey’s body arrived in Portland on Sunday. Sgt. 1st Class Max Franklin of Kendallville, Ind., took responsibility for bringing his body back to Maine. Franklin also carried Roukey’s personal effects on the trip from Baghdad. Lavinia Onitiu-Gelineau, whose husband, Spc. Christopher Gelineau, 23, of Portland, was killed April 20 when his convoy was ambushed in Iraq, came to the funeral, as did Sen. Olympia Snowe, Rep. Tom Allen and Gov. John Baldacci.