Several members of American Legion Post 95 in East Ridge are riding their motorcycles 1,300 miles to Cincinnati, Oh and joining approximately 500 Legionnaires from across the United States for the 11th Annual American Legion Legacy Run. The Run will be in East Ridge on Wednesday at 8 a.m.
The American Legion Legacy Scholarship, which provides college funds for the children of disabled veterans and military personnel who lost their lives on active duty on or after 9/11. The American Legion Legacy Run raised more than $1 million for the scholarships last year.
“The American Legion Riders are some of the most charitable, caring and community-minded people you will find,” American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett said. “The Legionnaires in (town) are truly committed to the American Legion Legacy Scholarship which provides educational grants to children of service members who died while on active duty following 9/11 as well as children of veterans who have been assigned a disability rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs of 50 percent or greater and served after 9/11.”
Since its inception in 2002, over $11 million has been donated to the scholarship fund, due largely to the efforts of The American Legion Riders who contribute on an annual basis through the annual American Legion Legacy Run. They also support countless other national, state, and local programs and charities for veterans, military families and communities.
“Supporting our local community is at the core of who we are as a motorcycle association,” said Bill Norton of American Legion Riders Chapter 95 in East Ridge.. “We believe in taking care of the families of the fallen, those injured in service to this country, and we must support our local communities.”
Each year The American Legion Legacy Run starts in Indianapolis, home of The American Legion National Headquarters. This year the ride started on Sundayand travels through Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and ends in Harrison, Ohio, on Thursday, near Cincinnati, where The American Legion is conducting its 98th National Convention during the final week of August.
The ride also gives The American Legion the opportunity to draw attention to key programs and services the nation’s largest veterans service organization provides, including assistance with benefits claims, career and education support, temporary and emergency financial assistance and help for the wounded, ill and injured who have served our nation in uniform. The American Legion showcases support of important youth programs like American Legion Baseball, American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State, and multiple programs and scholarship opportunities that help develop tomorrow’s leaders.
At various points along the Legacy Run route, veterans from all eras are engaged to discuss advocacy efforts to ensure that the issues most important to them are top priorities to The American Legion leadership.