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The American Legion Riders

The American Legion Riders are a diverse group of motorcycle enthusiasts sharing common goals. All are members or spouses of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of The American Legion—and all are united by patriotism. They answer the call to ride in service to America’s military, her veterans, and for the children and youth of our country.

The activities of The Legion Riders are limited only by the imagination of the members of the local Riders organizations, and many chapters have independently raised thousands of dollars for local children’s hospitals, schools, veterans’ homes, severely wounded servicemen and women, and American Legion scholarship programs. Since 2006, Riders have united nationally for The American Legion Legacy Run to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, established for the children of those who given their lives on active duty defending our freedoms around the world.

 

The American Legion Riders Today

Today the American Legion Riders have grown to nearly 800 Legion Rider programs in virtually every Department and in several overseas areas. Over the last few years, Riders in Iowa have formed an honor guard called The Five Star Freedom Riders. Riders in Mulvane, Kansas, reacting to a religious cult that uses the deaths of military members to further a misguided cause, formed the original “Patriot Guard” to protect and show our respect to the families at military funerals. American Legion Riders in all states have escorted returning military units as they return home from combat tours overseas, and have raised literally millions of dollars for countless local, state, and national charities.

And the Riders have only just started to roll.

Each American Legion Rider Chapter manages its programs at the post level, where all of the best ideas are born in the best American Legion “grass-roots” tradition. Here are only a few examples of the programs and projects The Riders participate in 

 

  1. POW/MIA Rally held each Memorial weekend in Washington D.C. known as "Rolling Thunder".
  2. “Operation Wounded Warrior, sponsored by Riders in Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California, and several other western states.
  3. Local charity events in support of The American Legion or of the community.
  4. Raising money for such organizations as local VA Hospitals, Women and Children's Centers, Children and youth centers, schools, and many others.
  5. Motorcycle "Runs" to benefit numerous charities, including charities for underprivileged children and medical research, just to name a few.
  6. Local memorial ceremonies and community parades.
  7. The American Legacy Run, a fund raising cross country run from The American Legion’s national headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, to the year’s national convention city.
  8. Riding to honor fallen military men and women, and to protect the sanctity of their funerals from those who would dishonor their memory.
  9. Riding escort for military units en route to departure airfields and airports to combat tours overseas, and welcoming them home upon their return.

Motorcyclists are a very dedicated group of people. When you combine them with The American Legion Family, you create a win/win situation.