NEWS & UPDATES

By Regina Gonzalez

Published  June 7, 2025 2:43pm EDT

St. Petersburg

FOX 13 News

The Sgt. Anthony Patrick Muhlstadt Foundation hosted their annual Defender 2.2 Mile Ruck/Walk & 5.5k on Saturday morning; a powerful community gathering honoring the life and legacy of Marine Sgt. Anthony Patrick Muhlstadt, who tragically lost his life to suicide in November 2021.

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On Saturday morning, the Sgt. Anthony Patrick Muhlstadt Foundation held its yearly Defender Ruck/Walk—a heartfelt event bringing together friends, family, and supporters to remember Marine Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Muhlstadt. The fundraiser featured a 2.2-mile ruck march and a 5.5K walk/run, symbolizing strength and solidarity in the fight against veteran suicide.

Congratulations to Katherine Bogran Urquilla, the 2025 Sgt. Anthony P. Muhlstadt JROTC Leadership Award recipient.
 

“True leadership is a picture, not just words. If you’re not leading by example, you’re not leading.” Ms. Bogran is that picture.
 

Her commitment, integrity, and example have set a standard for others to follow. Please join us in recognizing this outstanding achievement.

A huge congratulations to the eight incredible individuals who successfully completed the 2-day ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) workshop hosted by Anthony’s Foundation in St. Pete.

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You showed up, leaned in, and proved that saving lives starts with people who care enough to act. Your commitment to learning these life-saving skills is a powerful reminder that everyday people can make an extraordinary impact.

We are proud of you for stepping up to be a light in someone’s darkest moments.

A special thank you to the exceptional team at the Suicide Prevention Training Institute for delivering top-notch training. Your passion and expertise continue to make a real difference.

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Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient community—ready to have the hard conversations and stand up for those in need.

Camp Pendleton now has 31 new “boots on the ground” in the fight against suicide. The Marines of the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion have completed the two-day ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) workshop, earning their certificates and stepping up as lifesavers in their ranks and communities.

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These Marines are now equipped to recognize signs of suicidal risk, engage in critical conversations, and help individuals develop personal safety plans—skills that can truly make the difference between life and death.

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A heartfelt thank you to Lt. Col Tim Riemann for his unwavering support, and to the 3DAABN command—your leadership makes all the difference. Gratitude also goes to CREDO for providing lunch and materials, and to all of our sponsors and donors whose generosity made this training possible.

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It was an incredible two days of connection, learning, and leadership. This is how we build a stronger, more resilient force—one Marine at a time.

A huge THANK YOU to the dedicated soldiers of BC 35th ESB-E in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, for participating in the life-saving ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) 2-day workshop! Thanks to their commitment, we now have 14 more boots on the ground, ready to make a difference and save lives. 🇺🇸💙

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This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing teamwork behind it. Special thanks to Sgt. Lihn Fernandez for organizing the event, and to the Suicide Prevention Training Institute for equipping these men and women with the essential skills to identify, engage, and keep others safe.

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A big shoutout goes to Robb Dobbs, Carlos, and the Racquetball Club for hosting the pickleball tournament that helped make this sponsorship a reality. To all the players, sponsors, and donors—YOU made this happen!

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Let’s continue working together to support and protect one another!

In November 2024, the Sgt. Anthony Muhlstadt Foundation hosted an incredible pickleball tournament, and thanks to the generous support of everyone involved, we raised just over $4,000! A huge thank you to the Racquet Club of St. Pete for hosting this amazing event and helping us bring the community together for such a great cause.

All funds raised from the tournament went directly to sponsor 14 soldiers in Puerto Rico to attend the ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) 2-day workshop. This training equips our service members with critical skills to save lives and support those in need.

We couldn’t have done it without the players, sponsors, and donors who made this event such a success. Your support is making a real difference in the lives of our military men and women. Thank you for being part of this important mission!

We had a Marine from Virginia and Jacksonville that traveled to attend the workshop along with our beloved 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion Marines. Thank you to

Lt. Col Riemann and Sgt. Maj Peterson for making this happen! What an amazing 2 days! Thank you to the beautiful Blue Star Mothers that believe in what we are doing and helped fund this mission! Thank you to all who participated and helped make this happen!

“The entire community came together to remember one of our nation’s heroes, Sergeant Anthony Muhlstadt.”

“It’s the 2nd Annual Anthony Muhlstadt Defender Ruck Walk, a 2.2-mile walk, honoring Marine Sgt. Anthony Muhlstadt and all those lost to suicide.”

“And it’s not just another military member up on a wall. It’s somebody that stands for what Northeast represents, and what it means to be a Viking.”

This wonderful feature is a beautiful telling of the character strengths of Sgt. Anthony Patrick Muhlstadt from his mother and fellow marine.

The Defender 5K Ruck Walk raised money for the Stop Soldier Suicide Organization in honor of Sgt. Anthony Patrick Muhlstadt. 

Sgt. Muhlstadt, a local man who grew up in the area, graduating from Northeast High in St. Petersburg, joined the Marines. He had been serving at Twenynine Palms in California when he passed away at just 23 years of age.