Marty Beichner of AccuTrex Presented with National Award

Commissioner Maggi and Marty Beichner

Marty Beichner, owner and CEO of AccuTrex Products Inc. in Southpointe was honored Thursday by the Washington County Board of Commissioners for his support of local veterans.

We honored him because in August, he received the National American Legion's 2025 Employer Veterans Award for mid-size companies. Since 1980, AccuTrex Products, Inc. has manufactured a wide range of custom products that includes custom shims, gaskets, metal stampings, sheet metal fabrication, and assemblies.

As a member of the American Legion, I nominated AccuTrex and Marty for the national award, commending him for his dedication and concern for the welfare of veterans. The national Employer Veterans Award is granted each year to a private-sector business that has a workforce made up of at least 10% veterans. AccuTrex won the award for mid-sized companies, joining other winners in the categories for large and small companies. This is the first time a Washington County business owner has won this prestigious award.

Marty, a veteran himself, joined the US Navy in April 1967 and was trained at the Hospital Corps School at Great Lakes and attended field medical training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He then served a year as a corpsman in South Vietnam with Hotel Company 2nd Bn, 26th Marines, 1st Marine Division and was honorably discharged in December 1970. He is a lifelong advocate, who in addition to employing veterans, is involved in veterans’ affairs and issues.

Prior to Thursday’s meeting, Marty and his family were joined by a contingency of local veterans for a small reception. In addition to being honored by the county, Marty was presented with his national award by Susan Patchin, the  American Legion's Western Section Vice Commander of the Department of Pennsylvania. Cecil Township Supervisor Cindy Fisher also presented him with a certificate from the township.

Marty Beichner and Susan Patchin of the American Legion

Marty Beichner and Cecil Township Supervisor Cindy Fisher

I have known Marty for a long time and I consider him a good friend, therefore it was also an honor to recognize him at the county level. He and AccuTrex are known throughout Washington County for their philanthropic activities involving veterans and for their passion for helping the men and women who served this great country. 

American Legion Legacy Run Raised $1 million for Scholarships

Standing for the National Anthem prior to the 850-mile Legacy Run.
Photo courtesy of the American Legion Legacy Run Facebook Page. 

The 350 bikers that gathered in Virginia last month for an 850-mile ride to Florida may have been loud and a little rough looking, but their intentions were good as they raised over $1 million for scholarships.

I was one of those rough-looking bikers who took part in the five-day American Legion Legacy Run. Since 2006, we have raised more than $16 million for scholarships for children of U.S. military personnel killed since September 11, 2001, and now for the American Legion’s Veterans & Children Foundation. Each year the ride ends in the host city of the National American Legion Convention.

I have participated in the ride for 12 years and it has allowed me to visit many different parts of our great country. This year I left home on Saturday, August 16 on my 2025 Harley Ultra and headed for American Legion Post 8 in South Boston, VA. I joined up with hundreds of bikers who had to register, receive their “flight assignments” and details for departure the next day. You might think motorcyclists are a freewheeling and carefree bunch, but to participate in this trip, the riders and bikes had to undergo an inspection to ensure safety and respectability. If a bike was not up to standard, the rider wasn’t permitted to participate. There were also rules about clothing with questionable sayings, obscenities, etc. For clarity, it wasn’t allowed.

Getting Instructions Before the Ride

The riders were mostly veterans, therefore the event had somewhat of a military feel. Each day the ride was kicked off with a prayer, the National Anthem, and a safety briefing. We were always escorted by police and safety vehicles and some riders completed the whole journey, while others only did part. Regardless, there was comradery among the participants, who shared stories and built friendships along the way.

The daily rides also included several stops. This year we were able to attend a wreath laying ceremony at the U.S.S. North Carolina in Wilmington, N.C.; we toured Fort Bragg in Charleston, S.C.; and attended another wreath laying ceremony at the POW/MIA Memorial Museum in Jacksonville, FL, before heading to the final stop at the National American Legion Convention, Tampa, FL.

At the U.S.S. North Carolina in Wilmington, NC

I was appointed to the National American Legion’s Americanism Commission; therefore, I had to attend a couple of meetings when I arrived. After that, I broke off from the crowd and continued my motorcycle trip to Key West, Florida. It was an absolutely a beautiful ride down Alligator Alley and across the Florida Keys.

At the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S. in Key West, FL

I look forward the Legacy ride each year, because seeing the country on the back of a Harley motorcycle is an awakening experience that allows me to see, feel, and even smell the environment. I have met a lot of interesting people, enjoyed local cuisine, and experienced a different way of life on these trips. It’s something I would love to share with my wife, Mary Jeanne, but she doesn’t enjoy riding motorcycles the way I do. Because of that, I usually get homesick and look forward getting back home.

This year, when I returned home at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday August 24, which was my birthday, I had clocked in 3,517.6 miles on this trip. I was tired and weather beaten, but it was a great experience that gave me and the other bikers a chance to care for our Veterans and their children.

Here's a little video clip of the ride, courtesy of the National American Legion Riders: 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/169GeAhXUp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Safe and Sound back in Washington County

Larry Maggi

maggil@co.washington.pa.us

Larry Maggi is a Washington County Commissioner, serving over 209,000 constituents in Southwestern Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit https://www.washingtoncopa.gov/larry-maggi

Welcome to my blog!

Welcome to my newsletter, or as they call it today - a blog.

Life is a journey and mine is one dedicated to public service.

As a lifelong resident of Washington County, I started out as a kid in Claysville, served with the U.S. Marine Corp and then as a trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police. I later served as the Washington County Sheriff and I'm currently a Washington County Commissioner, a member of the PennWest California Board of Trustees, a wrestling official, and a member of the American Legion and other veterans' organizations. Most importantly, I'm a husband, a father, and a very proud Pappy.

This blog will serve as a place to provide information to my constituents in Washington County, share memories, and write about my favorite place: Washington County.

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Enjoy the ride.

Larry

Larry Maggi

maggil@co.washington.pa.us