DERBY ? A soldier killed in an April explosion in Afghanistan was remembered Friday as a man of honor.

“This man gave his life so others could live better, freer lives,” Sen. Sam Brownback said. “Sgt. Jamie Maugans’ life was lost for a great cause, and he will always be honored and remembered for that.”

Maugans, 27, of Derby, and another Kansan, Staff Sgt. Justin Galewski of Olathe, were among four soldiers killed April 15 when an explosive detonated while they were disposing of Soviet-era 107-mm rockets near Kandahar.

Brownback, R-Kan., was one of the many attendants at a memorial service to honor Maugans Friday at Derby City Hall.

Maugans’ mother, Kathy Wurdeman, offered thanks to those who helped make a difficult time easier. She also told guests not to feel sorry for her son because he died doing what he wanted and loved to do.

“Jamie was a man of honor, integrity, humility and most importantly, he loved doing his job,” Wurdeman said. “Even though he knew it was dangerous, it’s what he wanted to do.”

Maugans, a member of the 710th Explosive Ordnance Detachment based in San Diego, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service and the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in action.

Grieving, Wurdeman said, is understandable, but continuing to live is necessary.

“May we always remember Jamie,” she said. “And may we all strive to be as good and serving to our fellow man as Jamie was to us.”

Sgt. Aaron Morland, who was stationed in Afghanistan with Maugans, praised Maugans’ mom for raising a virtuous son.

“I learned so many things just from being Jamie’s friend,” Morland said.

“Jamie always went out of his way to help everyone, even strangers. I will live by his example.”

Derby Mayor Richard Standrich said soldiers such as Maugans would preserve America’s freedom even in the face of war and terror.

“If you cut us, we bleed. If you hit us, we bruise. And yes, you can even knock some of our buildings down,” Standrich said. “But you can’t destroy us. Not as long as we have soldiers like Maugans on our side.”