March Exchange employee devotes lifetime to serving troops

  • Published
  • By AAFES/PA
  • AAFES/PA
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  When Maria Beightol began working for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Lyndon B. Johnson was the President and a gallon of gas cost $.75.

Beightol, a Store Associate for the Exchange, started her career in 1964 and has spent the last 49 years serving generations of Soldiers and Airmen at the March Exchange.

"Serving those who protect our freedom is extremely rewarding," said Beightol. "It hasn't felt like a job to me - it's more of an honor and a privilege to have been able do this for so long."

Beightol began her Exchange career as a Store Associate. Over the following 49 years, she faithfully worked in the Class 6 department.

While the managers may have changed over the years, Beightol's dedication and devotion to the troops has never wavered.

"Thinking back on the past 49 years reminds me of what an honor it has been to serve those who serve," said Beightol. "Energy prices may go up and politician's change, but waking up and going to work alongside the best customers in the world is just as  exciting as it was my first day on the job."

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff.

The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with quality merchandise and services at competitively low prices and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military morale, welfare and recreation programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases,  visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.