Jacobs Honors Veteran of the Month Matejka Baumgardner

(Hamburg, NY) – New York State Senator Chris Jacobs announced that Town of Hamburg resident and Marine Corps veteran Matejka Baumgardner has been selected as the 60^th Senate District Veteran of the Month for February 2018.  Jacobs made the announcement at a ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1419 in Hamburg, where Baumgardner is an active member.   

“Matejka served her country with great pride and distinction in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom,” said Senator Jacobs.  “In her five years of Marine Corps service, she received nearly a dozen medals, honors, awards and citations validating her love of country and exceptional service.” 

A high school honors student, Baumgardner joined the Marines in 1999 and was honorably discharged in 2003.  In addition to her service at Camp Commando in Kuwait, she also served for two years in the 9^th Communications Battalion in Okinawa, Japan.  Her lengthy list of military awards includes the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Campaign Stars. 

In addition to VFW Post 1419, Baumgardner is also an active member of the Erie County Woman’s American Legion Post 1586, and is a Past Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Woman’s Post 12097.

“Matejka’s commitment to serving her fellow veterans is truly inspiring,” said Jacobs.  “Her active duty service and post military career make her an ideal recipient for this honor,” the Senator concluded.