Community Corner

Bowie Man Receives Veteran of the Year Honor

Anthony J. "Tony" Begenwald pays visits to hospitals and takes wounded veterans on outings.

The Joint Veterans Committee of Maryland recently named Anthony J. “Tony” Begenwald of Bowie, a member of the Marine Corps League, as its 2012 Veteran of the Year.

Begenwald has shown outstanding support to veterans and wounded Marines, according to a release that detailed his activities that started when he joined the Free State Detachment in Bowie. He assumed the task of coordinating visits to the wounded at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, and this activity ultimately became the Marines Helping Marines Foundation in 2003.

The release provides additional information:

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Begenwald, who lives in Bowie, MD and also a member of the DAV, the American Legion Post 66, is a Commissioner on the Prince Georges’ County Commission for Veterans, the Bowie Elks Lodge #2309, the Knights of Columbus, and the Penn State Alumni Association, was recognized by the JVC for his nine years of support to veterans and wounded Marines and Corpsmen at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda (formerly Bethesda Naval) Hospital. Working under the auspices of the Marines Helping Marines Foundation, a 501(c) 3 charitable organization, where he is the Vice President and Director for the East Coast, he has made over 450 visits to the hospitals, taken wounded Marines on excursions such as fishing trips, golf tournaments, and ball games. For the past six years he has conducted monthly cookouts and Christmas Day dinners at the hospital. Fund raising has always been one of his dedicated activities. He has traveled many miles, all on his own nickel, from Connecticut to San Antonio, TX, to Boise, ID, to Greenville, NC, and places in between to sell his Marines Helping Marines wares, shirts, and challenge coins to raise funds. He has received numerous certificates and proclamations for his activities.  

The Joint Veterans Committee consists of veteran service organizations including the Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Veterans, Disabled American the Veterans, Catholic War Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Find out what's happening in Bowiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

An award presentation will be held at the Bowie Elks Lodge in Gambrills from 4 to 8 p.m. on March 17. Tickets cost $35 per person and may be purchased by contacting Jerry Devlin at 301-262-1696, Bob Flick at 410-451-1529 or Ray Chatary at 301-706-2491.


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