Motorcycle Skills Training Experience?

Skills needed!

The National Headquarters of The American Legion is preparing a database of American Legion Riders nationally with motorcycle skills training experience as an instructor or mentor. If you are an American Legion Rider, and have experience as a motorcycle riding skills trainer or instructor, please email or mail your contact information and details to me here in Indianapolis.

Thank you.

Bill Sloan
PO Box 1055
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206
wsloan@legion.org

The American Legion and the GI Bill

SURVEY

If you have a second, please take this survey... it's a communication audit conducted by the national headuqarters...

thank you

CLICK HERE

The American Legion launches VetCam, a free one-on-one video conferencing – to enable you to talk face-to-face with friends and family across town or overseas; one-on-one; or with several people at a time.
Members of The American Legion, as well as members of the United States Armed Forces (active duty, Reserve and National Guard), their families and friends, are welcome to use this complimentary technology to remain connected with those people most important to you.
Visit http://vetcam.ncbintl.com/ for more information.

Paralyzed Soldier gets a high-tech wheelchair

Paralyzed soldier gets a high-tech wheelchair - check out the link to see the video, to get the full story go here. For additional information, or to make donations in support of future foundation activities, please contact: America's Huey 091 Foundation, Inc. C/O Gary Lawson 901 Main Street, Suite 4400 Dallas, TX 75270-3794

Email Greetings From The Royal British Legion Riders

From: World Wide Web Server
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 5:10 PM
To: National Commander
Subject: Contact via the legion.org webpage from Mike Baxter


Dear Sir,

Congratulations on a great site. As a Committee member of the Royal British Legion Riders Branch I am seeking any information that may be available for your Legacy run in 2010.

As part of our Poppy Appeal run we are planning a visit to USA and would like to join up with the Legacy run either to complete the whole run or just a segment.

Is it possible to be sent details so that we can start planning this adventure in supporting our troups and ex-service men and women?

Look forward to hearing from you,

Best Regards.


Mike Baxter
Riders Branch 3542 RBL UK

mill.house@blueyonder.co.uk

00441985846911


Mill House
Boreham
Warminster, UK BA12 9HQ

Updated total as of September 3, 2008

$530,796.23 and still climbing.



From: lemondsg
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 11:33 PM
To: Sloan, William H.
Subject: don't mean to be a pest

Have had several ask me, the final tally of funds raised, for L-Run 08, plz. let me know when no. is available. Thanks Gary

Another Legacy Run Blog (Kansas style!)

Here is a link to another Blog kept during the run. This was by Brenda & Chris Krueger who were on a Yellow Goldwing with a trailer.

http://chrisk153.blogspot.com/

There are some great pictures!

Enjoy,

Flamingo Tina

FINALLY HOME

August 28, 2008, 4:20 pm. Mike and I just pulled into our driveway in Panama City, FL. We have ridden 4,334 miles and had more fun than we thought imaginable. We got browner, got fatter (!), and got to participate in an extraordinary event!

Imagine - $515,346.23!!! All for the Legacy Scholarship Fund.

I for one am proud to have ridden with all the Legion Riders on the ride and I'm proud to be a member of the American Legion Riders, representing Unit 356, of the American Legion Auxiliary, Lynn Haven, FL.

I made a new Group on Flickr called Legacy Run to post photos you took of the run. Feel free to add your pictures so we can share! It's a public group you just need a Yahoo ID.

Go to http://www.flickr.com/groups/831432@N24/

From Panama City, FL, signing off one last time until next year...

Flamingo Tina (tinakirchoff@knology.net)

Final Legacy Ride Video

Hi all,

Here is the final Legacy Ride video I produced for the convention and showed to the group yesterday.

It was a pleasure to document this ride and applaud the Legion Rider's effort in raising money for the children of our fallen heros. Bravo.

Enjoy,

Derek
Event Videographer

DONATIONS ONSTAGE AT CONVENTION

Riders,
The American Legion National Convention is online virtually live on “Legion TV” at our national website below (www.legion.org). Click on the main page links to see the opening ceremony as well as videos of the entire national convention as it unfolds today through Thursday.
Don’t miss the final tally for 2008 for The American Legion Legacy Run as Commander Conatser accepts the last of the Run donations on stage from your fellow Legion Riders. That video is available now (it began running after only a twenty minute delay from Phoenix).

--Bill AWACS Sloan

2008 Legacy Ride Video Pt.2

Hi all,

We made it to Phoenix safe and sound. What a beautiful ride through Arizona. If you get the chance to drive highway 60 through Snowflake, AZ to Globe, AZ - you'll see some of the prettiest scenery in the west.

Great job to all riders. See you all next year!

Derek
Event Videographer

Friday, August 22, Phoenix Convention Center

The American Legion Riders gathered at Post 2 for a ceremonial parade to the Convention Center in Phoenix where the National American Legion Convention is being held.





Our last ride meeting with 'Uncle' Dick Woods, as well as our last prayer (which is how we started each day).







There to meet us was National Commander Conatser, National Auxiliary President Jan Pulvermacher-Ryan, and the Son's National Commander would have been there but was kept from convention due to ill health.







Commander Conaster took donations from many, many Legion Riders standing in the hot Phoenix sun but it was all worth it. According to the calculations, the amount of money raised for the Legacy Scholarship Fund - just on the ride - is $320,000.00. We all certainly worked hard to raise this money and can't wait to hear how much more money is donated during Convention.






The Riders had a meeting at 11:00 am where issues were discussed about next year's ride, etc. If anyone has ideas for the ride next year email terrywoodburn@illegion.org. He is the Dept of Illinois Adjutant but is also one of the National Legion Rider Coordinators. Some want to have regional rides terminate in Indy then ride together to Louisville. Others want a nice 1200-1800 mile ride (something scenic) that ends in Louisville. We have to keep this momentum going. Riding together on a long ride with a common goal is just too good.



Following the meeting, Mike and I were lucky enough to meet Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known as America's Toughest Sheriff!! He was there to recognize the Arizona Riders and their Liberty Bell.





Some Riders will be staying for Convention as delegates, some will be staying just to be there, some have already left, and some will be leaving tomorrow. It is always sad when the ride comes to an end.

As Tom Haines said last night - Our goals for this ride was to Promote the American Legion Legacy Scholarship fund, Arrive in Phoenix safely, and to have fun. Suffice it to say: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

It has been an honor and a pleasure to be your official 'blogger' for the Legacy Run. I hope you enjoyed my posts as much as I enjoyed making them. If you have any suggestions, feedback, or just want to comment, remember you can make a comment below or email me at tinakirchoff@knology.net.

Signing off from Phoenix, AZ: Flamingo Tina

Pictures DAY 5

American Legion Riders suited up early on Day 5 of the cross country American Legion Legacy Scholarship Run from Indianapolis to Phoenix. The Riders are shown in the pre-dawn hours west of Gallup, New Mexico.

American Legion Riders descend into the scenic Salt River Canyon between Snowflake and Globe Arizona near the end of a 1,800 mile journey from Indianapolis to Phoenix where The American Legion holds its 90th National Convention.

Marilyn Chom's polyester ponytail whips in the breeze as she rides between Gallup, New Mexico and Phoenix, Ariz,. on Day 5 of The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Run. Chow is a member of the Mt. Clemens Legion Post in Michigan.

"Uncle" Dick Woods, road captain for the third-annual American Legion Legacy Scholarship Run, gives the thumbs up at the end of the 1,800 mile motorcycle ride from Indianapolis Post 64 to Phoenix Post 2. More than 300 American Legion Riders participated in the cross-country ride to raise money for college scholarships for children of military member who have died in the war on terrorism.

Thursday, August 21, Gallup, NM to Tempe, AZ

Early. Really Early. Posse up was at 4:30 am for a 5:30 am kick stands up. This was our last day of riding as a group under the direction of 'Uncle' Dick Woods. So glad to be riding - so sorry to be done!

It was a little chilly - 47 degrees!

I checked with T. J. 'Tom' Haines about how it is to ride at the end of this group - he is the 'sweep' and rides behind everyone. He is also the one who works out all the logistics for this ride - a very tall order! Here is what he had to say...(did I mention that TJ wears highly visible clothing and gloves that glow in the dark???)

Today's ride started so early because we needed to get into Phoenix before the high heat really hit - - our scheduled arrival time was 12:30 pm.

We left in the dark but the sun came up behind us with a vengeance. When we stopped for gas at Snowflake it was already starting to warm up.
Dick had promised a really great ride through the Salt River Canyon but I don't think any of us were ready for the gorgeous ride we had. At first we were saying - we got off the Interstate for this? But about 10 miles into the ride the pine trees got more abundant and then the real ride began!

Canyons, rock bluffs, 25 mph curves, 180 motorcycles, knowing it was our last day together, memories for a lifetime!

I'm hoping to have a video of the canyon ride tomorrow - just have to get it from a rider I know who was filming...

Group A3 - This one's for you, Don, in Dover. We all missed you!

We arrived into Tempe at the Post at 12:30 (as scheduled!) in 108 degree weather. I've ridden in hotter weather but something about the humidity (yes, they have humidity in Phoenix in August) nearly killed some of us!

Once at the Post, we had pictures of TJ and Dick, the Texas/Michigan Logistics Crew, Road Captains, Asst Road Captains, and Sweeps, Lady Riders, etc. It is hard to imagine that the ride is officially finished.

Texas/Michigan 'Crew'

Road Captains/Sweeps/Asst Road Captains

Ladies who rode from Indy to Tempe!

One important note: National Commander Conaster took donations and the tally is up over $240,000.00. There will be more donations made tomorrow when we get the 'official' greeting for Convention.

For now, suffice it to say that I am proud to have ridden with all you Legion Riders from Indianapolis, IN to Tempe, AZ. Can't wait to ride with you again next year!

If you have pictures or a blog that you would like to have posted here, please email me at tinakirchoff@knology.net and I will get it posted.

This Blog will be posted for a while to make sure that people have time to get home and read/look at all this info!

Signing off from Tempe, AZ: Flamingo Tina