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Happening ... in the Local Church
Remembering Collin J. Bowen
To the Editor:
On March 14, Sgt. 1st Class Collin J. Bowen passed away with his family by his side at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He was severely wounded Jan. 2 by an IED while traveling back from a mission in Khnost Province, Afghanistan. It was supposed to be his last mission before returning home and ending his tour of duty. Two other U.S. soldiers, Lt. Col. Richard Berrettini and Sgt. Shawn Hill, and an Afghani interpreter also died in the explosion.
Collin was born in Shirley, Mass., Jan. 18, 1970. He was baptized in the old St. Paul Catholic Church in Marion, Ind., and was a member until joining the Army in 1988. He attended grade school at St. Paul School, graduated from Marion High School in 1988 and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
After serving eight years in the Army, Collin settled in the Baltimore area and joined the Maryland National Guard. He was called to active duty four times since 9/11, the last when he volunteered for duty in Afghanistan.
In his youth, Collin was an athlete who excelled in tennis and baseball. He was a member of the Marion High tennis and baseball teams. The 1986 baseball team was state runner-up.
On March 20, Holy Thursday, Father Richard Weisenberger officiated a memorial service in Marion. He said all accounts of Collin were of a man who showed passion in everything he did.
Tuesday, March 25, a funeral Mass was celebrated in Landover Hills, Md., at St Mary Catholic Church. Father Samuel Giese presided, with Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley giving a eulogy. Burial was at Arlington National Cemetery.
Collin is survived by his wife, Ursula; three daughters, Gabriela, Katelyn and Erin; his mother, Carolyn (Knight) Smith and her husband, Rick; his father, Mike Bowen and his wife, Beverly, and their son, Jarrett; two brothers, Justin and Shelby; his grandmother, Josephine (Velasquez) Knight; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
To learn more of Collin’s story, go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/collinjbowen and www.CollinBowen.com
Gary and Lynn
Knight
Marion