Red Horse Squadron Cooks for Legacy Run

Members of the Silver Flag Training Site, Det 1, 823rd Red Horse Squadron, Tyndall AFB, cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for the recent Legion Riders Poker Run held at Post 356, Lynn Haven, FL, June 6th.

Members stood out in the heat and cooked all day and raised $447.00. They wrote a check to the Legacy Run that day and it will be delivered to the National Commander by Mike and Tina Kirchoff during the Legacy Run.

Thanks to all the members for their hard work and dedication!

American Legion Legacy Run GATHER AGENDA

Agenda
The American Legion 4th Annual
Legacy Run Kick-Off Event
American Legion Post 64
August 16-17, 2009


Monday, August 17, 2009


10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Doors Open, Post 64 - Registration for Legacy Run Participants

11:00 a.m. Emblem Sales Opens

4:30 p.m. All Riders Brief:
Marty Justis, Executive Director
Billy Johnson, Legacy Run Coordinator
Dick Woods, TAL Legacy Run, Chief Road
Captain
Bill Sloan, Legacy Run Coordinator

5:00 – 5:05 p.m. Opening: Salute Colors, Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation
Billy Johnson, Legacy Run Coordinator
Reverend Ron Moore, Legacy Run Chaplain

5:10 – 5:20 p.m. Introduction/Remarks from Guests
National Commander – David Rehbein
Indiana Department Adjutant – Steve Short
Megan Smith

5:20 – 5:45 p.m. Legacy Run Contributions:
Dave Rehbein, National Commander
Marty Justis, Executive Director

5:45 – 7:30 p.m. Dinner, Post 64, for Legacy Run Participants and Guests

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

5:15 – 6:00 a.m. Breakfast Post 64
.

6:00 a.m. Posse Up/Rider Check -in

6:15 a.m. Road Captain, Assistant Road Captain (ARCs) and Tail Gunner (TGs) Meetings
Dick Woods, Chief Road Captain

Note: Immediately following this meeting ARCs and TGs will move out to begin lining up flights in order of departure. They will not attend All Riders Briefing.

6:30 a.m. All Riders Safety Briefing:
Dick Woods, Chief Road Captain

6:45 a.m. Prayer:
Reverend Ron Moore, The American Legion
Run Chaplain

7:00 a.m. Kick Stands UP!!!


LET’S ROLL. SAFETY ON THIS RIDE IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. DON’T LET ANYONE TWIST YOUR THROTTLE!!!

I received quite a bit of responses from my original message regarding “another Veterans Corps”…

Thank you all for caring.

From many of the responses, there are valid arguments made for and against this new “Veterans Corps”.

On the one hand, this new initiative, if properly supported by existing VSOs, can help launch an awareness program to returning veterans and introduce them to the traditions of “veterans serving veterans”. This will help increase awareness for VSOs like The American Legion amongst younger veterans and get them involved. And with some mentoring from older veterans, we can expect these young veterans who get involved in the “Veterans Corps” eventually volunteer their time with the VSOs and continue to make an impact. As one legionnaire wrote “If the new Veterans Corps is to strengthen and enable organizations to build capacity for their own missions to assist fellow veterans, then there is a chance this new initiative will actually accomplish something.”

On the other hand, if improperly executed, this program risks wasting taxpayer money and further disenfranchise veterans who are already doing everything they can.

Your collective wisdom has enlightened me in the fact that given this initiative, we can either be counter-productive and argue who can provide the best assistance to our veterans, or we can see this opportunity and work together to help mentor a generation of returning veterans the importance of peer-support and volunteer services to strengthen their communities.

And keeping true to the grassroots, I urge you to find out more about this Veterans Corps and ask your American Legion representatives, and your congressional representatives, to ensure VSOs critical role in developing the “Veterans Corps”.

another Veterans Corps???

Congress is trying to establish a new “Veterans Corps” under the established programs of AmeriCorps. (http://hamptonroads.com/2009/03/worthy-AmeriCorps-program-benefit-veterans) The provisions introduced to both the House and Senate asked that the taxpayers to put more money into a bureaucracy and establish a program from the ground up to do the job that so many Veterans Service Organizations are already doing. From what I can tell, this new initiative will give AmeriCorps the funding it needs to establish transition assistance volunteers to help veterans.
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve always thought the point of VSOs, like The American Legion, are chartered by Congress to organize volunteer efforts, manage donations, and bypassing the government bureaucracy, and putting the efforts and initiatives at the hands of veterans who understand how to help another veteran. Maintaining true grassroots and empowering fellow veterans to serve their peers not only ensure the quality but also the bond that ties a veteran to his/her community. Why do we want to waste more taxpayer’s money to build something that is already there???
So why is the Obama administration looking in another direction on helping our veterans??? Can it be simply that Obama, or Congress, didn’t really think this through? Are they just jumping into the bandwagon to simply do something for the sake of doing something???
If it were up to me, I’d say instead of building another veterans’ service organization under AmeriCorps, Congress and Obama should look at what all of the VSOs are doing, and help build partnership across the board and help facilitate peer support to reduce the redundancy and maximize support to those returning veterans that need the help…
I think this is a case where politics and the appearance of doing something needs to take a backseat. Acting with reason and operating with the best interests of our veterans and servicemembers should be our first responsibility. Congress can really make a difference by coming to the VSOs and ask for an alliance or some sort to establish this “Veterans Corps”… but that’s just my opinion…

Oklahoma Riders looking for group to Indianapolis

Sir,

I am a member of the Oklahoma Legion Chapter and wondering if there was a Legacy Run planned from our area or even a corresponding state (Texas, Kansas, Arkansas)?

Thank you
Edward

Bad Bob and his kilt! A right tartar, he is!

Gooooood Morning to all my comrades, friends and fellow riders. I live in Blytheville, Ar and will be departing for my third Legacy Run on or about 15 Aug. I'll be heading up I-55,I-57,I-70 to Indy. Anyone wishing to join up and ride together please contact me at vnvmcbadbob@aol.com. I ride the red, white and blue Heritage with the American Flag and POW-MIA flag. I will probably wear my kilt along the way. My baby brother will tag along in a chase vehicle this year with a trailer. For anyone that hasn't made one of these, by all means, make it!. It's a great cause we all believe in and a world of fun. Especially with that crazy bunch from Converse, TX. (Where in the world is Converse?) My cell number is 870-740-6038.
Me lub you long time,
Bad Bob

Hi Bill Sloan!!!

Legacy Runs fro OK/TX/KS?

Anonymous said...
Are there any Legacy Runs from Oklahoma/Texas/Kansas area going to Louisville?
Love to know about it.

May 28, 2009 8:56:00 AM EDT