On August 16th seven hardy souls from the Post set out for Indianapolis IN for the 9th Annual Legacy Ride. The American Legion Legacy Fund, started in 2002, to provide collage scholarships for children of parents who were killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. The American Legion Riders, ALR, began nine years ago riding to Legion National headquarters in Indianapolis and over a period of a week rode to the host city for the American Legion National Convention. The purpose of which to collect monies for the fund. To date over nine million dollars has been collected. This year’s American Legion Legacy Run Home easily surpassed its donation total and, in doing so, raised The American Legion Riders donation total to the fund to well over $4.5 million. Between what was raised on the National Commander’s Ride – which started in Indianapolis on Aug. 17, traveled through Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, W. Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina and then ended in Charlotte NC Aug. 21 – and donations made in during The American Legion National Convention – a total of $1 million was raised to fund college scholarships for the children of U.S. Service members killed on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The first American Legion Legacy Run took place in 2006; the eight prior Legacy Runs netted more than $4.3 million for the Legacy Fund. This year’s top donors included the Minnesota American Legion Riders($87,000), American Legion Dept. Of Wisconsin (more than $70,000), Department of Pennsylvania and South Carolina American Legion Riders(more than $43,000), as well as the Legion Riders from American Legion Post 593 in Converse, Texas ($32,000). On Saturday Aug. 16 the boys arrive at Post 64 in Indianapolis IN for the per-run and sign up. That evening the Post served the group with dinner and donations were presented to the National Commander from various Post around the nation. All 50 states were represented. On the trip were Chuck Clark, Al Jousma, Larry Stauffer, Ed Harmon, Wally Brodock, Doug Mills and Bill White. Bill White presented a check from our Post to National Commander Daniel Dellinger, for $1600.00 for the Legacy Fund. The following day, Sunday Aug. 17th the group formed up in Post 64's parking lot to begin the 2014 Legacy Ride. Stops were made at several Harley-Davidson dealerships in Lexington KY and Pikeville KY were refreshments were providedThe Ride ended that day at Pikeville KY. Monday morning, Aug. 18th we gathered at the Holiday Inn parking lot in a downpour for the morning briefing and proceeded to Grundy VA where Post 164, Walmart and the City of Grundy VA served a breakfast to the group. We were able to get out of the rain for a couple of hours while in the Walmart parking ramp. We then proceeded on to Salem VA arriving at Post 3 for lunch and a break in the rain. Danville VA was our final stop for the day at Post 325. There the town turned out for us with people on the streets, fire trucks and city officials. One of our best receptions. On Tuesday morning Aug 19th Found us waking to a beautiful day in Danville. Once gathering for the morning briefing we proceeded to the Dan Daniel Memorial Park for a group photo. Notice the name of the Baseball Stadium. We then continued on to Post 55 in Winston-Salem NC for Lunch. The Cobb Racing Team was proud sponsor of the Legacy Fund. The chase vehicles followed behind the group in case of a breakdown. At another stop at the Tilley Harley-Davidson shop in Statesville NC friendships were made. We stopped in Shelby NC for dinner presented by USAA. We then had the rest of the evening to relax. On Wednesday Aug 20 we met and departed for Waynesville NC for the lunch stop. At this point a number of groups broke off from the Legacy Ride to enjoy some beautiful mountain riding available in the area. The remainder of the week our group enjoyed numerous rides in the mountains before making the trip back home.
0 Comments
|
|