THE AMERICAN LEGION LEGACY RUN Michael D. Nicholas, Sr., PGM LaFayette-Dupont Lodge No. 19 NOTE: While I acknowledge that this is a Masonic magazine and, technically, this is an American Legion story, there are a couple of Masonic connections later in the story. But overall, the following is meant to be an inspiration for what a group of like-minded people can accomplish—even while practicing their “weekend hobby.”
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here we were…riding through heavy rain in rush-hour traffic in Cleveland. I was the “trail” bike, or “Tail Gunner” for a group of about 25 motorcycles in Group E, which consisted of American Legion Riders and veterans from Virginia. Through some twist of fate, the Legacy Run had missed the timing on the plan to move 300+ motorcycles through the city on I-90 to I-71 South, and we were now fighting both the weather and the traffic. Suddenly, an 18-wheeler moved from left to right, cutting through our group, in an attempt to get to the right lane. As he passed through, I looked to the right and saw the front part of our group, led by our Road Captain and Assistant Road Captain, exiting on another ramp in a different direction. One of our riders had lost contact because of the truck, and in the traffic and rain we missed the exit. In the midst of the confusion, I moved forward and took over leadership of the group. I was painfully aware that not only was I leading the remainder of Group E, but also groups F, G, H, J, K, L, M and all of the trail and support folks behind us – about another 150 bikes and vehicles total. One thing that had been drummed into me as a young Army Ranger was to always know where you are and where you intend to go. That training paid off, and I eventually got us all to our planned destination at an American Legion Post for dinner. That little adventure was part of my fourth American Legion Legacy Run, and I’ve now done 13 of them, the last 9 as Road
6 | THE VOICE OF FREEMASONRY ISSUE 3, 2021
2017 Legacy Run to Reno, NV
Captain for Group E, the Virginians. The Runs are usually a two-week trip in August, and the purpose is to raise money for something called The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund. This year, we raised over $1.1 million, and a total of over $12 million in the 16 years since the inception of the Legacy Run in 2006. (There was no ride last year during COVID in 2020, but we still raised money.) Shortly after 9/11, the American Legion decided to establish this scholarship fund to provide college scholarships to children of any soldier who died while on duty, post9/11. In 2015 that eligibility was expanded to include the children of any solder who was 50% or more disabled on Active Duty. Where does the money come from? It comes from hundreds of American Legion Posts and thousands of American Legion members, who donate and save money all year for this effort. It takes the form of bake sales, dinners, gun raffles, poker runs, and other imaginative ideas. This year, for example, two of us from Post 177 in Fairfax Virginia presented a check in Show Low, Arizona for $7,000 to James W. “Bill” Oxford, the 2020-2021 National Commander of the American Legion. That $7k represented donations from Post 177, the Post’s Auxiliary, the Sons of American Legion, and the American Legion Riders – all of whom held different fundraisers during the year. By the way, Commander Oxford made the entire Run with us this year, riding on the back of someone’s trike!
2018 Legacy Run to Minneapolis: Legacy Scholarship recipients pose for picture in Galesville, WI. They came out to thank the American Legion Riders.
The Run is usually structured so that the riders meet somewhere in the middle of the country, then they ride as a group to wherever the American Legion holds its national convention. Previous rides have included routes to convention sites at Milwaukee, Charlotte, Houston, Baltimore, Reno, and Phoenix. The number of motorcycles has varied from 250 to over 500. With everyone being a veteran, you might imagine that the whole operation is conducted with military organization and precision, and you’d be correct (Except for Cleveland. That still bothers me!) Year-long planning is necessary. Hotels, fuel stops, meal stops, and routes are all carefully coordinated months in advance. Most law-enforcement organizations are happy to help us get through their towns, and we stick mostly to non-interstate routes that take us through the heart of America. After coordination is done, an advance planning team rides the route
