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Legion Riders deliver much-needed supplies to local elementary school
(Chapter 129 Facebook photo)
The American Legion – Aug 07, 2024
With a new school year starting prior to the onset of the pandemic, members of American Legion Riders Chapter 129 in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., learned from a teacher that has connections to the post that she would spend hundreds of dollars of her own money to purchase school supplies for students who were unable to pay for all of their supplies.
And that didn’t sit well with Chapter 129 and was the reason it started its backpack supplies program. For around six years, the Riders have provided backpacks full of school supplies and delivered them to a different school each year.
This year the recipient was Neptune Beach Elementary School, which was provided with 66 full backpacks.
“We decided to help our community out by doing the school supply drive,” said Past Auxiliary Unit 129 President and the former Chapter 129 Membership Chairman Mary Tarnowski. “We’re in a military town. We have a lot of military families … that really run short of money for school supplies. We’ve got a lot of needy families in the area.”
The first-ever donation was made to San Pablo Elementary School. Staff and students and their families were gathered outside with signs thanking the Riders.
“After that first initial contact, we decided it was something that we, as Riders, needed to do for the community,” Tarnowski said. “(Elizabeth Kavanagh) is the principal at Neptune Beach, which we recently delivered to, and she couldn’t thank us enough.”
Members of Chapter 129 donate school supplies at the post throughout the year; Post 129 also donated $1,000, while Unit 129 contributed $200.
“We also try to get some supplies for the teachers,” Tarnowski said. “They wanted tissues, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes … and we always try to get them some copy paper.”
Area Legions hold historic installation ceremony
TONY BRITT on Wednesday, July 17, 2024
First time Lake City, Jasper, Branford groups held joint event.
Legionnaires from around the area gathered at American Legion Post 57 for a historic installation service which also featured a celebration for a post commander stepping down after several years in… >> Read More
American Legion Post 90 Riders work to help end veteran suicides
Jack Fitzgerald, center, head of the Cape Coral Post 90 Legion Riders, presents a check for $6,000 to Mike Raymond, left, State of Florida Commander and Joseph Marcheggiani, Area Commander at Post 136, St. James City. PROVIDED
Cape Coral Breeze | By Staff | Jun 28, 2024
Local American Legion Riders recently joined a Florida statewide effort to help end veteran suicide. Called “PROJECT: VetRelief Suicide Prevention Initiative,” they raised over $330,000. Florida has almost a million veterans and more than 100,000 of them are American Legion members of which 15,000 are here in Southwest Florida.
From Marco Island to Punta Gorda, hundreds of local legionnaires rode their motorcycles for the cause. At local American Legion posts, thousands more donated and hosted rides, dinners and other activities. They also created fundraising pages to collect donations. Riders not only volunteer their time and pay for their own lodging and fuel but also make personal contributions.
Across the United States, about 22 veterans a day commit suicide (and many of them are here in Florida.) That is over 8,000 a year. The Florida American Legion Riders find this unacceptable. In 2019, they chose to do their part to eradicate this statistic and dedicate the funds raised through their annual In-State Unity Ride towards ending veteran suicides. Since then, they have raised over $520,000 for PROJECT: VetRelief’s Suicide Prevention Initiative. The funding sponsors veterans through existing programs and services focused on mental health. Detailed information on the program is available at www.projectvetrelief.org/spi.
The In-State Unity Ride is one of the largest multi-routes, multi-day, statewide motorcycle events, with many of the American Legion Riders traveling from across the state to join in unified support for this important cause.
PROJECT: VetRelief, established in 2014, is a program of The American Legion, Department of Florida. The program focuses on two services: emergency assistance and suicide prevention. When dealing with a life emergency, they support our service members and their families with immediate financial assistance. The suicide prevention initiative focuses on training or mentoring veterans through existing mental health treatments, programs, or processes to prevent suicide. Their mission is to keep food on the table or the lights on while a family works through a trying time and to decrease the suicide rate to zero.
Riders on the tour traveled in three different routes, East, West and Central, covering a total of 2,970 miles in the state of Florida. Chapter 90 Cape Coral American Legion Riders travelled 1,610 miles on their portion of the trip. There was a total of 160 motorcycles and 205 participants for the event. The Central District Riders, which Cape Coral Post 90 was part of, donated the most money of the three routes. Chapter 90 presented a check for $6,000 to PROJECT VetRelief suicide prevention initiative at Post 136 in St. James City on April 26. The 13th District contributed over $17,000 that day from the four legion families at their Post’s in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, St. James City and Bonita Springs.
The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of strong national security, veterans’ affairs, Americanism and youth programs. The Department of Florida Legionnaires support their communities through nearly 300 posts across Florida. Currently, more than 6,000 members are American Legion Riders.
To find out more about the American Legion, Department of Florida, please visit FloridaLegion.org. If you are a veteran and have not joined, please consider becoming part of a great organization.
Vero Beach veteran celebrates 100th birthday with motorcycle ride
Celebrating his 100th birthday, WW II veteran Bill Keegan blows out the candles on the cake held by gold star father Ken Dale at the American Legion Post 39 on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Vero Beach. >> Read Full Article
Local veterans take the trip of a lifetime
- Updated
Jim Brian, center, who served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, cheers with his guardian, Debbie Perina, of the Village Santo Domingo, as he is recognized after arriving home from Villages Honor Flight Mission 62 on Wednesday at American Legion Post 347.
Joseph Cooke, Daily Sun
Sixty-eight veterans were welcomed home by a sea of cheering friends and family decked out in red, white and blue.
For Stu Robinson, a U.S. Air Force veteran, stepping off the bus to that reception was the highlight of his Villages Honor Flight experience.
“Knowing how we’re supported at home,” said Robinson, of the Village of Bonita. “I just cannot tell you what it means.”
Seeing the turnout and the patriotism of the crowd left the Korean War veteran feeling emotionally overwhelmed, he said.
On Wednesday, Villages Honor Flight took another round of local veterans to Washington, D.C., for its 62nd mission.
The local Honor Flight hub takes veterans to see their respective war memorials and monuments in Washington, D.C., for free.
During the mission, they visit places like Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Air Force Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and many others.
Getting to experience the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery was a special moment for U.S. Air Force veteran Stuart Lesser.
While at the national cemetery, they met a lot of young students who clapped and thanked them for their service, he said.
“That was pretty emotional,” said Lesser, of the Village of Belle Aire. “It just made me feel so good that they were showing some patriotism.”
It showed the Vietnam War-era veteran the country is in good hands, he said.
It was even more special for Lesser and Robinson to share this moment with more than 60 other local veterans, they said.
Going on this trip and getting welcomed back like that truly renewed his faith in people, Robinson said.
While the crowd gathered at American Legion Post 347 in Lady Lake to welcome back the veterans and guardians, performers like DJ Ralph DiNome, the Wonderland Singers, the Prime Time Twirlers, the Original Belly Dancers and The Villages Cheerleaders kept them entertained.
The Mystic Ice Cream food truck also was on hand, serving ice cream.
The Prime Time Twirlers presented each veteran with a military challenge coin and thanked them for their service.
The veterans also received handmade quilts, Villages Honor Flight hats and a lifetime of memories.
“We love doing it for the vets,” said ground coordinator Karl Buettner, of the Village of Lake Deaton. “It’s all about the vets.”
As the three buses of veterans and guardians arrived back at Post 347 around midnight, they received an escort from the Lady Lake Police Department, Fruitland Park Police Department, Village Vettes Corvette Club, Village Nomads, American Legion Post 347 Riders and A Touch of Glass Corvette Club.
As the buses pulled in, The Villages Public Safety Department fire truck welcomed them with a water hose arch.
“Oh, it was a big surprise and unbelievable,” Robinson said. “The coordination that was involved in putting this thing on was incredible.”
Once they arrived back, co-flight directors Darrel Caswell, of the Village of Bradford, and Sandra Skopaz, of the Village of Pennecamp, described the day for the crowd.
“They all had a great time,” Caswell said.
Among the veterans on the trip, 13 served in the U.S. Air Force, 29 in the U.S. Army, eight in the U.S. Marine Corps, three in the U.S. Coast Guard and 15 in the U.S. Navy.
Veterans on this mission served in various wars and eras, said Duane Roemmich, public relations and media coordinator for Villages Honor Flight.
It cost about $600 to send one veteran on a mission, and the organization raises money all year long, said Roemmich, of the Village of Collier.
Any U.S. veteran who served at least one day in active duty is eligible to go on an Honor Flight mission. Villages Honor Flight serves veterans in Sumter, Lake, Marion, Citrus and Hernando counties.
Since 2012, Villages Honor Flight has taken nearly 2,000 local veterans on missions and another 350 on virtual missions, Caswell said.
The next Villages Honor Flight is flightless mission 63 on Oct. 2.
For more information about Villages Honor Flight or to donate, visit villageshonorflight.org.
Senior Writer Veronica Wernicke can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5307, or veronica.wernicke@thevillagesmedia.com.
Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide
A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
One of the participants raising money for Project: Vet Relief and suicide prevention told WINK News that more than 22 veterans take their own lives each day. >> Read Full Article
SEE: WW2 veteran turns 100 in Edgewater, Florida
A rented limousine transports World War II veteran Arthur Hobbs of Edgewater to the American Legion Post 285 at 4497 U.S. 1, in Edgewater for a surprise party to celebrate his 100th birthday on Saturday, April 20, 2024. His limo was accompanied by several Volusia County Sheriff’s Department vehicles as well as members of the Patriot Guard Riders of Central Florida Motorcycle Club. >> Read Article
2024 Gold Star Families Memorial Ride Kicks Off in Navarre
Posted on April 16, 2024 by Romi White
The 2024 Gold Star Families Memorial Ride, a weeklong ride honoring Gold Star families, started April 12 at American Legion Post 382 in Navarre.
Riders gathered at Post 382 then proceeded to Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola for the Opening Ceremony, which took place at Gulf Coast Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Pensacola.
Participants cleaned up the monument before laying a Gold Star Wreath sponsored by Warren Williamson with Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Northwest, and a POW-MIA Wreath placed on behalf of Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson.
The Patriot Guard Riders escorted the riders, who proceeded back to Navarre via Santa Rosa Island, arriving at Post 382, their overnight host. Loreen Skobel, Post 382 adjutant, and others welcomed the group, who were treated to a delicious meal cooked by American Legion Auxiliary 1st Vice President Tracy Bragg and others.
Participants were presented Challenge 22 Coins, a Florida Dept Commander Pin, and American Legion Membership Pins. Post 382 Commander Jason Skobel was presented with a 2024 Gold Star Families Memorial Appreciation Plaque.
Later in the evening, Michael Raymond, American Legion Department of Florida Commander, addressed Post 382 members, thanking them for their community service throughout the year. The nonprofit organization hosts many community events throughout the year, including but not limited to Ride for the Clause and fundraisers to provide scholarships to local students.
American Legion Department of Florida Commander Michael Raymond, addressed American Legion Post 382 members on April 12
On Saturday, April 13, the Gold Star Families Memorial Ride participants headed out to Chester Simms Veterans Homes in Panama City before traveling on to American Legion Post 57 in Lake City.
Additionally, a Western Area Ball took place Saturday night, honoring Post 382 member Sonny Decker, who currently serves as Western Area Commander. “It was an awesome event. Thank each of you from the bottom of my heart,” Decker said.
SUPPORTING VETERANS | American Legion Post 90 in Cape Coral hosting breakfast to help prevent veteran suicide
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — On Sunday, Feb. 18, the American Legion Riders, which is part of the American Legion are putting on a breakfast for anyone who wants to come.
It will cost you $10 a plate but the money I’m told goes towards Project Vet Relief which in part, goes towards helping prevent veteran suicide. >> Read Full Article
American Legion riders kick off ‘Winter Stamping Tour’
Cape News / American Legion riders kick off ‘Winter Stamping Tour’ |
By Staff | Nov 6, 2023
How would you like to support our Veterans while patronizing businesses that you probably already frequent? Now you can.
American Legion Post 90 Cape Coral is part of a charity “Winter Stamping Tour” that started on Nov. 1 and runs until Feb. 28, 2024.
The American Legion Riders of Florida’s District 13, of which Post 90 in Cape Coral is a part, includes 17 Legion Posts in Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, and Hendry Counties. Legion Riders have visited businesses all over the area and signed them up to be a sponsor. For $100 a business gets a coupon in a “stamp passport booklet.” These booklets are available to Legion members and the public for $10.
Money raised will be used to help American Legion Posts in Lee County that were severely damaged by hurricane Ian to repair and rebuild. Many Posts suffered storm damage, but four Posts, Fort Myers Beach, Port Charlotte, Sanibel/Captiva, and Bonita Springs had catastrophic damage.
The book includes 63 businesses who are participating. Anytime a person visits one of these businesses with their book, they can get it stamped. No purchase is necessary.
At the end of the four months if you have at least 10 businesses “stamped,” you can mail in the booklet and have a chance to win up to $500.
Legion Riders are a part of the American Legion Family which also includes the Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion. Together they support Veterans in need, community organizations and youth programs.
To locate a Post where you can purchase a booklet go to floridalegion.org/findpost. Follow the tour on Facebook at ‘District 13 Winter Stamping Tour.’ Post 90 Cape Coral is at 1401 SE 47th St. in Cape Coral.
American Legion Post 347 Riders Chapter donates puppy to K9s For Warriors
American Legion Post 347 Riders Chapter members Sherri Ward, Art Brown and Linda Haynes hold golden retriever puppy Lady Rider, who they recently donated to K9s For Warriors. The organization pairs veterans dealing with injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder with service dogs.
The American Legion Post 347 Riders Chapter’s annual 9/11 dance always is an emotional event, but when they presented a K-9 to K9s for Warriors, there wasn’t a dry eye in site.
The motorcycle group raised money through tickets sales from the 9/11 dance to purchase a dog for the organization that supplies service dogs to veterans with injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder. It presented the golden retriever during the dance Sept. 9 at American Legion Post 347 in Lady Lake.
Read this story and many others in Sunday’s edition of the Daily Sun.
Florida Legion Riders both honor POW/MIAs and their families while educating public on the issue
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Three years ago, Florida’s American Legion Riders started their Seven Bridges POW/MIA Remembrance Day Ride & Ceremony. Around 160 riders and 40 passengers took part in the ride, which starts at Adamec Harley-Davidson in Jacksonville, traverses the Seven Bridges of Jacksonville that cross the St. John’s River and finishes at the National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum for a ceremony.
A similar ride took place in 2022 on the Saturday after National POW/MIA Recognition Day, with more than 200 motorcycles taking part. And this year’s ride, which took place Sept. 16, blew those numbers out of the water: 248 motorcycles and a total of 361 participants.
But as happy as he is to see participation continue to grow, Department of Florida POW-MIA Chairman Denny Luke – a Legion Rider and member of Dewitt B. Tilden Memorial American Legion Post 316 in Atlantic Beach – it’s the impact of the ride’s mission that really hit home for Luke.
He shared a message he received following this year’s ride from one of its participants:
“Dear sir,
This is our first time to participate in this ride of remembrance for our POW and MIA servicemembers. My husband is a Vietnam veteran, and I am a Gold Star Daughter (of a Vietnam War KIA). He was MIA for a short time, and it seemed like an eternity of living hell, of not knowing and hoping. Thank you so much for honoring the POW/MIA daddies, and especially the dad of mine and my siblings.”
“It makes you very emotional,” Luke said. “There were a lot of people on the ride or at the ceremony who were POWs or are relatives of POWs/MIAs. Any of us who have worn the uniform … we’ve sat down and had a meal with a (fellow servicemember, watched them walk out the door, and the next time we’d see them would be in a flag-draped coffin.
“I can’t imagine the heartache of watching your buddy walk through the door and never return. I cannot imagine the strife that family members have when they get the message that their loved one is MIA. To me, that’s unimaginable, and I’m honored to honor their sacrifice.”
Department of Florida Commander Michael Raymond, American Legion Auxiliary Department President Dee Bell and Sons of The American Legion Detachment Commander Gerard Sambets were among the Florida Legion Family leadership who attended the event, with Raymond and Bell riding on the back of motorcycles.
During the ceremony that took place at the National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum, attendees heard from Meghan Wagoner, the daughter of former U.S. Navy pilot Scott Speicher. Shot down on the first day of Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Speicher was missing in action until his remains were found by U.S. Marines in Iraq in 2009.
“She gave a very emotional and moving rendition of everything they went through,” Luke said of Wagoner’s address. “They had about 18 years of not knowing.”
Luke said the purpose of the ride and ceremony isn’t just to honor U.S. POWs and MIAs and show support for their families. It’s about educating the general public that more than 80,000 servicemembers remain unaccounted for since World War II.
“We put out that the (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) needs DNA samples from any relatives of servicemembers who are MIA,” Luke said. “If we can get the word out, quite possibly the remains that have been found but not identified can be identified and brought home. We put this ride on to inform the public the hunt is not over, and they can help by either volunteering, or if they’re a relative of an MIA they can submit a DNA sample, and hopefully we can repatriate some of these souls.”
American Legion Riders honor POW/MIA in Florida
Florida American Legion Riders sponsored the Seven Bridges POW/MIA Remembrance Ride and Ceremony at the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
Florida American Legion Riders stand at attention as “Taps” is sounded during the POW/MIA Recognition ceremony at the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
POW/MIA flags are placed at the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla., in observance of POW/MIA Recognition Day. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
The POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla., included a flyover. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
Florida American Legion Riders sponsored the Seven Bridges POW/MIA Remembrance Ride and ceremony at the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
Florida American Legion Riders complete the Seven Bridges POW/MIA Remembrance Ride and arrive at the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla., for a ceremony. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
Meghan Wagoner, the daughter of Navy pilot Scott Speicher, who was shot down during the Gulf War and listed as MIA for 18 years, was the guest speaker during the POW/MIA Remembrance ceremony at the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
Wear Blue: Run to Remember lined the entrance to the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla. with posters commemorating servicemembers designated as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
Meghan Wagoner, the daughter of Navy pilot Scott Speicher, who was shot down during the Gulf War and listed as MIA for 18 years, was the guest speaker during the POW/MIA Remembrance ceremony at the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
The POW/MIA Table is prominently displayed during the POW/MIA Remembrance ceremony at the National POW/MIA Memorial in Jacksonville, Fla. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
A flag and medals commemorate the memory of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James M. Ray, who was captured by the Viet Cong in South Vietnam on March 18, 1968 and died in captivity on Nov. 30, 1969. His remains were never returned to the United States. Photo by Moriah McNutt/The American Legion
It’s a record: Legacy Run brings in more than $1.5 million
The American Legion Riders went out on a record note in fundraising for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund for the final time.
With more than $880,000 being donated on The American Legion National Convention floor in Charlotte, N.C., on Aug. 29, this year’s Legacy Run raised a record $1,551,631 – smashing last year’s record by more than $227,000. All told, the Riders have raised nearly $20 million for the fund after adding in this year’s total.
More than $667,000 was raised during and prior to the Legacy Run, including $211,000 from The American Legion Department of Maryland and $121,000 from the Department of Virginia. And then on the national convention floor, another $884,000 was presented.
The Department of Minnesota American Legion Family led the way with $162,000, while both Indiana and Michigan each donated more than $83,000. Also among the top donors on Tuesday were South Carolina with nearly $79,000, California and Missouri with more than $67,000 and Ohio with more than than $57,000.
“We believe that we’re a rolling billboard for The American Legion,” said Legacy Run Chief Road Captain Mark Clark, the chairman of the Riders’ National Advisory Committee. “We represent the best of us to all with whom we come in contact with. The national Legacy Run is much more than a once-a-year event. It also serves as a catalyst for department Legacy Runs and fundraising activities that occur all across the nation all year long.
“Since accepting this message in 2006, the American Legion Riders has raised more than $18 million to support (the Legacy Fund). Thanks to your generosity, we’re making dreams come true and fulfilling the promise we made back in 2001 to never forget the children of the fallen and those who have come home carrying both the visible and invisible scars of war. None of this would have been possible without the entire American Legion Family.”
Starting next year, the Legacy Run will raise funds for the Veterans & Children Foundation, which funds the Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance, and training and accreditation costs for American Legion service officers.
“With the passage of the PACT Act, there’s never been a time when we needed more trained and certified service officers, and The American Legion is rising to meet that challenge,” Clark said. “The American Legion Riders will assist in that effort. We need to support this foundation because it saves lives by providing veterans and children with the hope of a brighter future.
“I’m going to ask you to stick with us and help us make this transition a successful one. Because once the Riders say something can happen, it can happen.”
Legacy Run Day 3: Stage 4 pancreatic cancer doesn’t stop Florida Legion Rider from being on ride
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During The American Legion Department of Florida convention in June, Legionnaire Tim Morris remembers a couple coming up to him and asking him if he was OK. Morris had been physically active and had lost some weight, so he didn’t think much of it.
But then jaundice started to kick in. “I saw it in my eyes, and I started seeing it show up in my palms and in my feet,” said Morris, a member of American Legion Post 117 in Palm Bay, and the Department of Florida’s ALR sergeant-at-arms. “So as soon as I got back from convention … I went to the doctor and did labs at the VA.”
After getting results, Morris said the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare provider called him right away and told him to go straight to the hospital. That’s when Morris got the news: he had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer that had metastasized to his liver. After his condition slightly improved, he was able to do his first chemotherapy treatment in August. And he’ll do the next one, though it will have to be the first week of September, after the Legacy Run veteran completes this year’s ride.
Morris had participated in six previous Legacy Runs and had registered for this year’s ride. Though he knew he couldn’t ride it, both for himself and the safety of others around him, he still wanted to be a part of it. That’s when Department of Florida Commander Michael “Gambler” Raymond offered his commander’s vehicle to Morris to drive with the ride.
“It’s just life itself. It’s just me,” Morris said. “This is my family. Everyone here, I look forward to seeing just as much as I look forward to seeing my kids. I miss them the whole time we’re gone. When we get back together and see each other, it’s the most awesome feeling.
“(Before the ride) I was really questioning myself if this was a great idea. Michael Raymond … offered me to drive his car … which made it all possible. Without that, I’d have been stuck. But that gave me motivation, when he told me the news that I could do that. That picked up my spirits. Then I was, ‘Oh yeah, let’s go for it.’”
Morris wasn’t sure how he’d fit in with the ride while driving an SUV. But Legacy Run Chief Road Captain Mark Clark made arrangements for Morris to travel with the ride’s advance team. But that wasn’t enough for Morris.
“I decided if I was going to travel with the advance team, I was going to work with the advance team,” said Morris, who has assisted with directing the motorcycles when they park or pull in for a gas stop. “And I feel better every single day because I’m doing it.”
Morris said working with the advance team has given him “a whole new perspective and respect for the guys and gals that are the advance team. People don’t realize that when we ride up, they’re standing at the pumps … setting all that up takes a lot of work. (Advance team leader Devin Bright) does a fantastic job getting there and scoping the project out.
“That team is fantastic. They all work together. Everybody covers each other’s back.”
Morris said it’s always difficult to say goodbye to his fellow Riders at the conclusion of the ride. This year it may be a little tougher. “It’s going to suck. It’s going to suck,” he said. “It’s going to be a hard day, because I also know I may never see them again. I don’t feel that’s going to happen, but I know that’s the perception in my mind that this may be the last time I get to see everybody. So, I’m making every day the best that I can. Every day’s a blessing.”
Leaving Ohio on a Generous Note. At the stop at American Legion Post 371 in Wellston, Ohio, more than $6,000 was donated to The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, bringing the total to the half-million-dollar mark. Of that, $4,760 came from the hosts — $2,000 in a donation, and another $2,760 when the post donated back to the ride the check it had received to provide lunch.
“It’s just giving back, paying it forward,” Post 377 Commander Bruce Conley said. “This is what we’re about here in Wellston.”
Conley said being asked to host a stop on the ride was “at first a bit overwhelming. And then they came rolling in this morning, and it was overwhelming. But it is an honor and a privilege. We couldn’t be happier. As long as we can do for our fellow veterans, we’re happy to do it. That’s what our thing is here.”
During the stop, Clark also relayed a story one of the Riders had shared with him. One of the workers at a hotel hosting the ride had presented the Rider with a donation. The reason: that worker’s child was a Legacy Scholarship recipient and had earned a degree in engineering.
“It’s a small world,” Clark said. “We don’t know the lives that we are touching or dreams that we are helping make come true.”
Welcome to West Virginia. The Riders made a grand entrance into the Mountain State in grand fashion, crossing the Ohio River on the 2,800-feet Silver Memorial Bridge into the state. Construction of the bridge started in 1968 downstream from the former Silver Bridge, which collapsed in 1967 under the weight of rush-hour traffic and took the lives of 46 people.
The Riders then made multiple elevation changes in route to American Legion Post 177, where pizza, wings and swag bags were waiting for them. A letter from Sen. Joe Manchin was read, while Department of West Virginia Commander Matt Sampson was on hand to greet the ride.
“We arranged for the most pleasant riding weather possible,” Sampson told the Riders. “Thank you all for making this trip in support of The American Legion Legacy Scholarship (Fund). This means a lot to all those students out there.”
During the stop at Post 177, nearly $10,000 was donated, bringing the total into Day 4 to $510,139 – what Chief Road Captain Mark Clark said was a three-day Legacy Run record. A donation of $6,000 was made by Fairfax, Va., American Legion Post 177, Chapter 177 and an individual donor.
National Legion Riders chairman: Be the One while on the Legacy Run
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The American Legion Legacy Run is in its final year of fundraising for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund. But the ride’s chief road captain, National American Legion Riders Chairman Mark Clark, wants participants to not only stress how the ride provides scholarships for the children of fallen servicemembers and disabled veterans.
During the kick-off event in Kokomo, Ind., where American Legion Post 6 served as the registration site and will see the ride off Sunday morning, Clark also asked the Riders to share the message of the Legion’s Be the One suicide-prevention initiative.
“We can save a life if we take the time to do so,” Clark told the hundreds of American Legion Riders sitting in Havens Auditorium on the Indiana University-Kokomo campus. “(Be the One) is more than a slogan. It’s a commitment that our organization has made. Now’s the time for us to act, because each one of us can be the one. We’re counting on each of you to do your part.
“When you get a chance to interact with folks at the hotels or along the route – people are always fascinated by what we do and what we’re riding for. As we talk about the Legacy Fund and those type of things, make them aware of our Be the One initiative. They can want to be a part of it. They can help us advance that initiative. So please do that.”
Clark also talked about next year’s shift to the ride raising money for the Veterans & Children Foundation, which funds both the Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance program and training for the organization’s accredited service officers.
He referenced the completion of the Riders’ “first assigned mission and the acceptance of our new mission: to ride for the future. To build the funds for that very important foundation that helps children and families with children every single day. So, this is not the last Legacy Run. It’s always going to be the Legacy Run. The run is about the legacy we leave. The legacy of service to our fellow veterans and their families.”
Thanks from a Scholarship Recipient. On hand Saturday night was Deanna Woodburn, a two-time Legacy Fund recipient who also rode the ride with her father, Department of Indiana Adjutant Chad Woodburn, in 2019. She was the third generation of the Woodburn family to take part in the Legacy Run.
Woodburn graduated from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science degree in event management and now works at Walt Disney World.
“I could not have been more grateful,” said Deanna, a member of Auxiliary Unit 635 in Normal, Ill., of receiving the scholarship. “I wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, because the scholarship helped me graduate, and I’m living my dream living in Florida working for the mouse.”
Michael Westergren, chairman of the Legion’s National Committee on Youth Education, told the Riders that last year the Legion was able to award 321 American Legion Legacy Fund Scholarships – the most ever awarded.
“If we hit that goal of $1.5 million, guess what? There’s going to be more (scholarships awarded),” he said. “Every child that is eligible for the scholarship – because it’s needs-based – gets a portion of the money. So, if we have 500 qualified applicants, 500 kids get scholarships next year. And it’s because of you. What you do here has an enormous effect … and it trickles down to every one of the posts, every one of the squadrons and every one of the units.”
Praise for the Riders’ Legacy. American Legion Family leadership was on hand to praise the Legion Riders and their efforts. American Legion National Commander Vincent J. Troiola, American Legion Auxiliary National President Vicki Koutz and Sons of The American Legion Commander Chris Carlton all were on hand, as was National Vice Commander Patricia Harris; Troiola, Harris and Carlton are heading out with the ride on Sunday.
During his remarks, Troiola made it a point to share how Legion Riders have been there throughout his travels during his tenure, greeting him as he arrived in their departments and at their posts. Then he thanked them for their efforts in raising money for the Legacy Fund.
“Over the years, we – really you, some who have been here since the beginning and other Riders from the past – have raised more than $17 million for the children of our fallen and disabled veterans,” Troiola said. “Our fallen heroes left a legacy, but you are leaving one as well. As a result of the hard work and contributions that have come into this annual event over the years, hundreds of young men and women have used their educational opportunities to become doctors, lawyers, military leaders, business professionals and public servants who will benefit this country for generations to come.
“Higher education is now attainable for future Legacy scholars, and the fund is much closer to being able to sustain itself. That’s a pretty impressive legacy if you ask me.”
A Record Start to the Run. Donations were aplenty during the night, when more than $228,000 was presented to the national commander – $10,000 came from Kenneth N Dowden Wayne Post 64 in Indianapolis, while $211,000 came from The American Legion Department of Maryland after a record-breaking Gold Star Legacy Run. Eight such rides have raised $611,000 for the Legacy Fund.
“It’s just grown and grown,” said Sons of The American Legion Past National Commander Joe Gladden, who serves as co-chair of the Gold Star Legacy Run. “This year we set a goal of $100,000. But as always in Maryland, we don’t believe in just hitting a goal. We believe in trying to break that goal. It was an incredible year.”
The Legacy Run will head into Day 1 having already raised $391,424 – the best opening it’s ever had.
Florida Legion Riders help bring early Christmas to boy with terminal cancer
Gabriel Bostwick, a 12-year-old who is in home hospice care while battling terminal cancer, wanted a chance to see Santa Claus and feel the holiday spirit one more time. His community, including multiple American Legion Riders, were more than happy to accommodate his wish.
On July 21, more than 70 motorcyclists joined with more than 200 other area residents to bring Christmas to Gabriel and his parents at their home in Navarre, Fla. Legion Family members from American Legion Post 382 in Navarre and Post 378 in Gulf Breeze were among the contingent, which sang Christmas carols, delivered presents, and provided a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as some other North Pole inhabitants.
Ashley Correa, who works at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart and is a member of the American Legion Family at Post 378, learned about Gabriel’s wish and that an event had been planned. She contacted Post 382 Commander Jason Skobel, the past ALR director at the post, to share what was planned.
“He knows we do the ‘Ride for the Claus’ during Christmas, and she said this family was wanting to do a Christmas in July for (Gabriel),” said Skobel, who also serves as District 1 first vice commander and Department of Florida Western Area ALR chairman. “I put the word out there in our district with our Riders, and … we had overwhelming support for this kid.”
Skobel said there were around seven different motorcycle organizations involved, including at least four American Legion Riders chapters. “When we arrived there, there already were some members of the community and neighbors lined up along the street,” he said. “But when they saw 75, 100 motorcycles pull up in front of their house, just seeing the look on the parents’ faces and that kids face, just goosebumps, hair standing up all over. It was just, there were really no words to describe it.
“Just seeing that little kid smile and his dad pushing his wheelchair just to take a look at all the bikes lined up on the street – I just kind of stood in the back for awhile and was watching all the riders. It’s funny to see all these older, big gentlemen – the burly riders – flipping their sunglasses down so you can’t see the tears coming out of their eyes.”
Florida district’s Legion Family providing vital support to service dog programs
The American Legion | FEB 08, 2023
American Legion Department of Florida 16th District Commander Eric Nestler has met veterans who utilize service dogs. He’s seen the impact the dog can make on the veteran’s life.
He also knows how expensive it is to train a service dog, which is why he is so proud of the efforts of his district to support local service dog trainers and providers.
Already in 2023, the 16th District American Legion Family has raised more than $60,000 for two nonprofits. Around $37,000 was presented recently at an American Legion Riders district meeting, but Nestler stressed that this kind of effort requires a complete Legion Family effort.
“This money came from the work that the Legion, the Riders, the Auxiliary and the Sons put in. It’s a combined effort,” said Nestler, a member of Post 46 in Tarpon Springs. “They are dedicated. The motivation, the enthusiasm, the caring. Everybody I talk to, I tell them, ‘People don’t care how much you know until you show them how much you care.’ And that’s why we’re here.”
So far this year, Legion Family members at Madeira Beach Post 273 have raised $25,000, while Post 173’s Legion Family in Holiday donated another $20,000. Nestler said Post 173 has provided 39 service dogs through its years of donations.
The two service dog programs the district supports are:
· K9 Partners for Patriots, which is based out of Brooksville, Fla., and is a professional service dog training for military veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and military sexual trauma (MST); and
· Palmetto, Fla.’s, Southeastern Guide Dogs, which provides elite guide dogs, service dogs, and skilled companion dogs for people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges.
Nestler said both nonprofits have brought veterans utilizing their dogs to Legion Family meetings, which helps make the mission hit closer to home.
“These dogs (cost) like $10,000 each,” Nestler said. “But we see the impact they make. Raising this amount of money, it’s a blessing. It’s the whole reason why I’m doing what I do. I want to give back to the veterans and help the veterans. And the district believes in this program. They believe in the dogs.”
The two canine programs aren’t the only beneficiaries of the 16th District’s support. Last November, members of the districts Legion Riders and other Legion Family members made the 300-mile round trip to deliver around $70,000 in cash donations and other vital items to victims of Hurricane Ida living in Lake Placid. The district also has managed to land in first place in the department membership standings.
“(The district) is really pulling together,” Nestler said. “They know why we are here. We talk about it. It’s a blessing to see these amazing things. It’s a way of life. And I can tell you now that we won’t stop.”