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The Bowdren Clan - Philadelphia
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Our names are Phil and Marian Bowdren.
We've been married for 32 years (just shows what a sense of humor and an occasional drink can do), and have (4) Sons;
Phil, Jim, Shaun & Timmy, and (2) Daughter-In-Laws; Erin (Shaun) and Maria (Timmy). We also have (4) Grandsons; 12
year old Tyler Michael (Philip & Kiersten), 3 year old Declan Michael, 1 year old Liam Dennis (Shaun &
Erin), and 1 year old Christian Scott (Timmy & Maria), and our newest addition, Granddaughter Keegan Siobhan
(Shaun & Erin), born on July 4th. Rounding out our family is our crazy Cockapoo; Lord Blarney O'Pooh and an even
crazier black cat named Finnegan.
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| 2005 Saint Patrick's Day Party |
We’re members of Holy Name of
Jesus Parish, and members of the Holy Name Guitar Group, the Parish's oldest serving Ministry. I also serve as Cantor for
4:15 Vigil Mass every Saturday.
I'm a retired Philadelphia Police Officer (1972
- 2000); I'm working part-time for a friend doing computer research and other office work.
Marian worked for McDonald's for over 21 years,
but is now an Assistant Manager for the Arby's in our neighborhood.
I'm a founding member of Ancient Order
of Hibernians - Division 51 - Fishtown, which was chartered in June of 2001. I was just elected President of Division
51 and I'm looking forward to the challenge. I chair the Public Relations Committee, co-chair the Hibernian Hunger Project
Committee and the Communion Breakfast Committee, edit the Division's newsletter "The Hibernian Gazette" and am the
webmaster of the Division's website.
I currently serve as Recording Secretary
for the Philadelphia County A.O.H. Board and as Webmaster for the County’s Hibernian Hunger Project website.
Marian is a founding member of Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians - Division
51 - Cumann na mBan, which was founded in June of 2002.
I also have the honor to serving
as a Board Member of the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center and the Lacey Gallagher Memorial Scholarship Fund Board.
We live in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia. Fishtown
is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the City, situated along the Delaware River about 1 mile north of Center City Philadelphia.
Penn Treaty Park is located in Fishtown along Beach Street and the Delaware River. Tradition says it was here that William
Penn made his treaty with the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Indians. Our neighborhood is presently the fastest evolving community
in Philadelphia, with property values more than doubling in the past few years, thanks to the big, old houses in the neighborhood,
and the close proximity of Fishtown to Center City, to public transportation, and to I - 95.
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| 2006 Great Irish Stew Cook-Off |
On March 15th, 2006 I entered for the first time the Hibernian
Hunger Project's "Great Irish Stew Cook-Off". At the end of the night I walked away with a First Place win in the Amateur
category.
On March 8th, 2007 I once again competed in the "Great Irish Stew
Cook-Off" held at Finnegan's Wake. Unlike last year when I took First Place, this year there was no "Amateur" competition,
and I lost to a very good recipe from Colleen's Restaurant on the B.F. Parkway... such is life. The afternoon before
I created a pot of Irish Stew on TV (CBS 3) as a promotion for the Irish Stew Cook-Off and the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
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| Judge Jimmy Lynn & I - 2007 Great Irish Stew Cook-Off |
On March 12th, 2008 I once again competed in the "Amateur" category, and took Second Place to my friend
Dan Hazley of AOH Division 87.
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| Dan Hazley & I - 2008 Great Irish Stew Cook-Off |
Since 2004 Division 51 has held a semi-annual "Fill The Cart - Help A Vet In Need Collection" outside the
Port Richmond Thriftway to benefit the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center. In that time we have collected
60 shopping carts full of food and personal grooming items and raised $8,200 for the Center's Homeless Veterans Programs.
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| Check for $1,000 presented at 2005 Troop Rally |
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| 2006 Fill The Cart Collection |
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For the last 10 years I have served as the Police Department's "Official" Historian. A brief history is
on the Department's website at www.ppdonline.org/hq_history.php
Since 2003 Division 51 has sponsored a "Fishtown Supports Our Troops Rally", I have had the honor of serving as the Rally Organizer during that time. In 2007 we were honored to have Vietnam Medal
of Honor recipient Sergeant Major Jon Cavaiani as our Guest Speaker at the rally.
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| 2006 Fishtown Supports Our Troops Rally |
In the fall of 2005 and again in 2006 Division 51 co-sponsored the "Philadelphia River Wards Support Our Troops Rally" held in Campbell Square in Port Richmond. Each year on a Saturday night 800 to 1,000 people came out to show their support
of our Men and Women in uniform. Guest Speakers included Senator Rick Santorum, Congressman Bob Brady, City Controller Jonathan
Saidel, and State Representatives Marie Lederer and John Taylor.
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| Addressing the 2006 Philadelpia River Wards Troop Rally |
In October of this year members of AOH Division 51 attended the Philadelphia Irish Society's Awards Dinner;
at that dinner we had the honor of listening to, meeting and getting a picture with Sein Fein President Gerry Adams.
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| AOH Division 51 & Sein Fein President Gerry Adams |
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| 12 year old Grandson Tyler leading Pledge of Allegiance |
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| Addressing the Philadelphia Supports Our Police Rally |
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People have visited our site since going online
on August 30th, 2005. Thank You for visiting The Bowdren
Clan
NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW
© 1987
Grunt Records
Written by Albert Hammond
& Diane Warren
Performed by Starship (Grace Slick, Lead Singer)
For more than 20 years
this has been our theme song...
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS...
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