Lowell Honors Fallen Soldier John F. Landry Jr.

A plaque now bears the name of Pfc. John F. Landry Jr., killed in Baghdad in 2007 at age 20.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Civic

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single flag in a dim civic hall, with a plain bronze plaque form in the lower frame, in navy, cream, and oxblood. — Lowell officials added the name of Pfc. John F. Landry Jr., killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad in 2007 at age 20, to a memorial plaque this Veterans Day. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Lowell honored U.S. Army Pfc. John F. Landry Jr. with a plaque at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium following a Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday morning. Landry was killed on March 17, 2007, when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.

Why it matters

Landry is the only Lowell military member killed in action in Iraq after the 2003 invasion and the last Lowell service member to die in the line of duty. The plaque places his name among hundreds of Lowell residents who have served and died in military service.

The Lowell Memorial Auditorium memorial now lists 1,277 Lowell heroes, and Landry was 20 years old when he was killed on March 17, 2007. The source does not specify additional memorial plans beyond the plaque.

The players

John F. Landry Jr.

A U.S. Army private first class from Lowell's Highlands neighborhood who was killed in Baghdad at age 20 while on patrol.

Lowell Bicentennial Fundraising Committee

A local group credited with efforts to memorialize Landry's name at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

The details

The plaque was added to the Hall of Flags at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium after the Veterans Day ceremony, with the Lowell Bicentennial Fundraising Committee credited for efforts to memorialize Landry's name. Landry, a native of Lowell's Highlands neighborhood, attended Lowell Catholic, where he was a standout athlete.

March 17, 2007: Landry killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq.
Tuesday, November 11, 2026: Veterans Day ceremony where Landry's name was added to the plaques.

Civic Memorial Record

Landry is the only Lowell service member killed in action in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, and the plaque extends the Lowell Memorial Auditorium's record of 1,277 local heroes. The plaque honors the last Lowell service member to die in the line of duty.

Residents can view the plaque honoring Landry in the Hall of Flags at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. The memorial lists the names of 1,277 Lowell heroes, giving visitors a place to see local military service recorded.

The takeaway

Local memorials preserve individual names within larger wartime records, keeping the cost of service visible to the community. Lowell's plaque for Landry ensures his service is recorded alongside those who came before him.