WILMINGTON, MA — To mark the 10th anniversary of his death, a breakfast to honor PFC John F. Landry Jr. will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 9am at the Wilmington Knights of Columbus Hall (112 Middlesex Avenue).
Landry, who grew up in Lowell, but had deep family ties to Wilmington, was killed in action by an IED during Operation Iraqi Freedom ten years ago, on March 17, 2007.
Admission to the breakfast, which will include a performance by the Massachusetts State Police Pipes and Drums, is FREE thanks to the generosity of the event’s sponsors — Nichols Funeral Home, Ahern Family Charitable Foundation, Biggins Exterminating, Mastrolli’s Catering, Realtor Kristen Duffy, Team Blue, Lori & Tim Penney, Linda DuCharme, Freeland Family, Friends of Tim Ryan, Francine Hersom, DAV Ch. 27 Somerville, and John Maguranis. Donations, however, will be accepted for the John Landry Jr Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Attendees are asked to RSVP to the Wilmington Veterans Service Office by calling 978-694-2040 or emailing veterans@wilmingtonma.gov.
About PFC John Landry Jr. (from his Memorial Scholarship Fund page)
PFC John Landry Jr., a member of the Class of 2005 at Lowell Catholic, was killed in the line of duty on St. Patrick’s Day, 2007 in Baghdad. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, in the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas. He was the first service member from the City of Lowell to die in combat, on the four-year anniversary of the beginning of the war.
An honors student, Landry graduated Cum Laude in 2005 and served on the student council and was involved in campus ministry. He was referred to as a “gentle giant” who was a force to be reckoned with as a lineman on the football field. Yet, to teachers, friends and family members, he was a funny, caring and loving young man. Although he had received a college scholarship, he opted to follow his father, John F. Landry, who served in the Marines, and grandfather, who was a member of the 82d Airborne Division, by joining the military. Family and friends recalled that joining the Army was Landry’s goal since his freshman year of high school.
More About PCF John Landry Jr. (from his obituary)
Private First Class John Francis Landry, Jr., arrived into this world three weeks early on Christmas Day in 1986, in Malden, MA, he was the beloved son of John F. Landry, Sr., and Pamela (Morse) Landry of Lowell, formerly of Wilmington. As his parents put it “we were thrilled because it gave us extra time with him.” He was placed in a Christmas Stocking in the nursery before he was given to his parents; it was love at first sight.
He grew up in Lowell, MA, but he has strong family ties to Wilmington. He attended Lowell Public Schools in his younger years and attended Lowell Catholic High School. Throughout high school John was a leader, a member of the student council, the campus ministry, he served as a student ambassador, and was an avid athlete playing both basketball and football. A force to reckoned with, John, as a lineman on his football team, #57, stood 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 240 pounds, he played both offensively and defensively with fierce determination and strength. As a student, his intelligence was phenomenal, he set goals for himself and he worked hard to be a straight A student and his favorite subject was U. S. History. John went on to graduate with cum laude honors from Lowell Catholic High School in 2005.
John received a scholarship to go to college, but first he was determined to serve his country. He came from a military family, his father John, Sr., was a Marine and his grandfather a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. His high school principal Maryellen DeMarco recalls that John talked about joining the military throughout most of his high school career. She quoted him as saying that he was going to serve his country and make her proud. Shortly after graduating John began training at Fort Benning in Georgia and was based at Fort Bliss in Texas. He had been serving on the front lines with the Second Battalion, 12th Calvary Regiment of the First Calvary Division since October 31, 2006.
In speaking with his family, they fondly talk of his caring ways, how he saw the good in people, he was a care giver, a good son and brother, a wonderful and doting uncle to Donovan, a good friend, a gentle giant, very honorable and proud, just the best. Even in death he gave back, his aunts were saying that he brought his family closer and reunited them with relatives from out of state, making them promise to keep contact and realize how short life really is. John loved his family, his parents, sister, nephew, grandparents, his many aunts, uncles, cousins and they do find some comfort in knowing that John will be at peace in the loving arms of his grandmother Lorraine.
John was killed in action on March 17, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, defending his fellow soldiers, a troubled country, and a greatful nation, he has a tatoo on his left bicep that reads “my lifestyle determines my deathstyle.” John lived as a Hero and died as a hero.
John was the dear brother of Britney Landry of Lowell, loving uncle of Donovan Landry, grandson of Robert and Barbara (Duggan) Morse of Florida, great grandson of Violet M. Duggan of Wilmington, also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that will miss him dearly.
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