American Legion Riders chapters are well known for their charitable work, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children's hospitals, schools, veterans homes, severely wounded servicemembers and scholarships. Since 2006, Riders nationwide have participated in the Legion Legacy Run, to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, established to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001.
Legion Riders today
Currently, 106,000 American Legion Riders meet in over a thousand chapters in every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries. Riders in Iowa have formed an honor guard called The Five Star Freedom Riders, and Riders in Mulvane, Kan., founded the Patriot Guard to protect the sanctity of military funerals from protesters. Riders in all states have escorted military units returning home from combat tours overseas, conducted massive cross-country fundraising events for wounded warriors from all services, and have raised millions of dollars for countless local, state and national charities.
True to the Legion's grassroots tradition, each chapter manages its programs at the post level, where the best ideas are born. The Riders of Post 126 are part of many projects and events, including:
Legion Riders
THE AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS and
THE LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
As a direct result of the attacks on 9/11, the American Legion (motorcycle) Riders established an annual riding event in 2006 that would become known as: “the Annual Legacy Run”. The purpose of this fund-raising event is to raise money to provide college scholarships to the children of U.S. troops who died on active duty on or after 9/11.
2015 is the tenth year of this event, and hundreds of American Legion Riders took part in the four-day Legacy Run that began in Indianapolis on Aug 23, and covered more than 1,000 miles through Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania before arriving at the Legion’s Annual Convention site in Maryland. A total of $1,249,684.00 was raised this year; and, in the 10 years since first established – this Ride has raised more than $6,000,000.00 for scholarships.
The American Legion Riders have adopted the Legacy Scholarship Fund -- and ride annually for the benefit of the children of our fallen brothers and sisters “who gave all”. Contributing to this Fund is a top priority for all Legion Riders, and is just one more way that veterans can help veterans, or their families.
