Sgt. Marshal Alan Westbrook, the only New Mexico National Guardsman to be killed in combat in Iraq, will be laid to rest today in Farmington.
Public memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. at the Farmington Civic Center, and burial with full military honors will be at 12:30 p.m. following a military procession to Greenlawn Cemetery.
Westbrook, 43, was killed west of Baghdad on Oct. 1 when a Humvee he was riding in was hit by a homemade bomb. He was a member of the 126th Military Police Company that is based in Albuquerque.
Dave Westbrook said in Farmington last week that his younger brother died trying to protect his fellow soldiers when they came under attack.
"We all knew this was possible," Dave Westbrook told The Associated Press. "But he wanted to do this. He wanted to fight for his family and for his country. We are very proud of him."
Westbrook was an employee at the Public Service Company of New Mexico's San Juan Generating Station. PNM will host an open reception at the Civic Center immediately following the burial.
He is survived by his wife Joleen and five children -- Marcia Westbrook, 24; Sgt. Ryan Alan Westbrook, 23; Anthony Westbrook, 20; Nicole Elizabeth Westbrook, 14; and Chadrick Westbrook, 22 months. His parents, three brothers and a sister also survive.

Your Name:

Your Email Address:

Rate this article:
Poor Great

Comment:

BOLD

"QUOTE"

UNDERLINE