From Bill Sloan at the National Office the new total is - $530,796.23 and still climbing.
Well we are all home now. Belief it or not the common thread amongst us all is that we can't wait for next year. Another common thread is that it is hard to believe we are home. Many of us are still on the same schedule. Each morning we were up, loading up the bikes, and on the road early. Many of us are still up early in the morning and weary by 3:00 p.m. I guess when you get in the swing of a schedule for 2.5 weeks it is hard to break it.
I, personally, am a bit sore still. My old Army shoulder injury is really acting up. Hope to be over that soon BEFORE I have to go to a doc. Will see. I am looking forward to this weekend. Some rest then a nice ride to Walter Reed with one of the Maryland Legion Rider chapters.
Almost 1000 Miles and I am Home
Finally, I am home. I rode HARD for two days and am now sitting in my easy chair typing you all the final blog of the trip. I AM HOME. My goal was to make it home by 8/30 and I decided by hell or high water that I would make it despite rain both days. I also logged a couple of extra states along the way.
Friday morning, as I awoke in Jonesboro, AR, only find the cover on my bike cover had been stolen. The cover has been with me for over two years, had been across the country the and wouldn't you know it was stolen in my former home town. Never the less, at 0700 I hit the road. I rode and rode through the boot heel of Missouri, hit Tennessee, and pulled into Kentucky before noon. Although I hit a patch or two of rain in S.E. Kentucky it was a good day. It was nice and cool until just outside Lexington where I had decided would be my night's destination. Saturday on the other hand, I awoke to patchy heavy fog, I hit W.V. about 10 a.m. and an hour later was in a driving thunderstorm. However, about an hour south of Clarksburg, WV the clouds cleared and it was on. I had decided that if I could dry out and the rain was not continuing over the mountains that I would plug on from their. As I approached Clarksburg it looked a little iffy but after I turned on US50 I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Therefore, I pushed over the mountains. I made it to Winchester by 1900 and home an hour and a half later. Almost 1000 miles in two days. That is a tough drive in a car. Believe me, I have done it. Add to it some thunderstorms and I am surprised myself. But, I did it and I am home. WOW.
So there you have it. 7 days out and just a few hours over 6 days back. Other than washing clothes and cleaning a nasty bike, the adventure is over. Until next year..........
We Did It....
As you can see below we did it ...... Over One Half A Million Dollars this year. Even if you did not make the ride, if you were a part of our chapter, or a part of the Virginia Legion Riders, or even just participated in some of our fundraising events you are a part of that and you should be proud.
If you have not already checked out the official Legacy Run blog (http://legacyrun.blogspot.com/). You can see video of the ride, etc. Including some footage from the Advance Team and the back of my head as we went through the Salt River Canyon.
Well I am safely in Arkansas now. Mike N. peeled off just after noon yesterday in Eastlend to visit friends in Texas. Among my travels was an overnight in Greenville, TX then through Texarkana (Texas and Arkansas) and Hope, AR, birthplace of Clinton. Visiting my daughter today in Southwestern Arkansas and will travel to Northeast Arkansas tommorrow to see my little guy.
The weatherman is not being good to me. The trip home has been very dry thus far but looks like that will change for the weekend. Hope not but........
Legion Riders raise $515, 346.23 for the Legacy Scholarship Fund
More than 200 motorcyclists roared into downtown Phoenix Friday, culminating a cross-country ride of 1,800 miles to make a college education possible for the children of thousands of U.S. military men and women who have died defending our freedoms since Sept. 11, 2001. Their goal: raising $350,000. The third annual American Legion Legacy Run kicked off Aug. 17 in Indianapolis and ran through seven states to the 90th American Legion National Convention in Phoenix that convenes Tuesday.
During their journey the Riders enjoyed both sunny and rainy days. And while soggy weather may have soaked them to the bone on occasion, it didn’t dampen their spirits. "There's no such thing as a bad day to ride, especially when we are riding to raise money to ensure a college education for children who have lost a mom or dad," said Phil Whitt of Birmingham Post 151. "Rain is just liquid sunshine."Mike Harper of New Haven Post 330 in Indiana agrees.
"It's pretty wet on the road," Harper said during a fuel stop in Shamrock, Texas. "But I can't think of a better reason to ride - rain or no rain." American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser, who traveled with the Riders, greeted them at each of their daily fuel stops, lunch stops and overnight stays to encourage the motorcyclists and to thank them.
"Legion Riders on the Legacy Run, and Legionnaires across the country, are raising funds to ensure that a higher education will be a reality for children who have lost a mom or dad," Conatser said. "Providing for the children of our military personnel who have paid the ultimate price for freedom is our civic duty, and an education is a powerful way to show our thanks."
At St. Robert Post 331 in Missouri, the Riders witnessed firsthand the impact of their efforts. Amy Sabalu and her two young children came out to thank the group. Sabalu's husband was killed in action in Afghanistan, and she said she is grateful to The American Legion and the Legion Riders that she doesn't have to worry about her children affording a college education. "I intended to explain the purpose of the Legacy Scholarship tonight, but there's little I can add," Conatser told those gathered at the post. "Amy and her children are what this is all about. What more can I say?"
Along the route, which followed the historic Route 66, Legionnaires made donations at lunch stops and during evening activities, along with providing food, bottled water and other support. By Wednesday, Riders had received more than $208,000 in contributions, and by the time they rolled into Phoenix on Thursday they had raised nearly $300.00. By the time a final check was presented on the floor of the convention Tuesday, the final tally exceeded 500,000 surging past the $350,000 goal. “Last year I jokingly said, I thought the riders did an outstanding job last year and I just expected them to do better for me. And they did!” Conatser told the attendees Tuesday afternoon.During the five-day run Riders stopped overnight in St. Robert, Mo., Oklahoma City, Tucumcari, N.M., and Gallup, N.M. Along the route, Legion posts played crucial supporting roles by manning fuel stops, coordinating with local law enforcement officials, and providing the road warriors with food and water.
While Legacy Run 2008 may be in the history books, it’s never too late to support the Legacy Scholarship Fund. For more information on how you can help provide a college education to the children of our fallen heroes, email Robert Caudell at rcaudell@legion.org.
From The American Legion Website
On The Way Home......
Many of the NOVA Legion Riders are on the way home. We kind of split up for the trip. Rich C. left Phoenix on Saturday, Mike N. and I left on Sunday. Jon B. shipped his bike home and will ride home with his wife in the car but are visiting family, etc. in the Phoenix area. John S. is staying for the duration of the Convention and will trailer home later in the week.
Mike and my trip is going well. Day one we made it over 400 miles to Las Cruces, NM after a brief visit to THE Tombstone, AZ (pics later). This morning we got up and have made it to Midland, TX. We stopped in El Paso, TX so my bike could visit the place,it called home once, the world famous, Barnett Harley-Davidson. What a shop.....WOW.
The ride has been great. It has been absolutely beautiful. West Texas is HOT, however and it makes riding in the heat of the afternoon TOUGH. The diversity of the geography, people, etc. has been a pure pleasure. Tommorrow, Mike and I will part ways after we get to Abilene as he is going to visit a friend who lives in TX and I am on to Arkansas to visit my family for a day or two before heading home.
The plan now is for me to be home Sunday. Not sure if I will have time to update you all but if I do, I will.
Mike and my trip is going well. Day one we made it over 400 miles to Las Cruces, NM after a brief visit to THE Tombstone, AZ (pics later). This morning we got up and have made it to Midland, TX. We stopped in El Paso, TX so my bike could visit the place,it called home once, the world famous, Barnett Harley-Davidson. What a shop.....WOW.
The ride has been great. It has been absolutely beautiful. West Texas is HOT, however and it makes riding in the heat of the afternoon TOUGH. The diversity of the geography, people, etc. has been a pure pleasure. Tommorrow, Mike and I will part ways after we get to Abilene as he is going to visit a friend who lives in TX and I am on to Arkansas to visit my family for a day or two before heading home.
The plan now is for me to be home Sunday. Not sure if I will have time to update you all but if I do, I will.
DAY 6
Although the Legacy Run was officially over, we still had things to do today. Today was the parade to the Convention Center followed by the National ALR Meeting. It was great seeing the bikes pull in. In addition we were asked to be at the local Fox Station this morning for a spot on the Letacy Run on the morning show. (http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=AC43B998D332531D6E89F17C79E7B779?contentId=7265282&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1 )
Mike "N" and myself left the convention center just after the big meeting. We went to Superstion Harley-Davidson to change our oil. Then Mike wanted to see the local fair a bit. So we did. We rode the Apache Trail (http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/apache_trail/) to Tortilla Flats for dinner. It was a great ride through the Superstitious Mountains by Canyon Lake etc.
I have uploaded all the pics from the lasr 2 days on FLICKER. CHECK IT OUT!
Mike "N" and myself left the convention center just after the big meeting. We went to Superstion Harley-Davidson to change our oil. Then Mike wanted to see the local fair a bit. So we did. We rode the Apache Trail (http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/apache_trail/) to Tortilla Flats for dinner. It was a great ride through the Superstitious Mountains by Canyon Lake etc.
I have uploaded all the pics from the lasr 2 days on FLICKER. CHECK IT OUT!
Day 5 - On To Phoenix
YES....we made it to Phoenix!!! 16/17 of the riders from Virginia and 5/5 of the NOVA Legion Riders arrived today safe and sound in Phoenix. We prensented our check after lunch. How proud I was of all of the blood, sweat, and tears we shed and presented the National Commander with 2 checks. One for One Thousand, One for Tw0 Thousand. That combined with what has been sent in our behalf brings the total raised by our chapter to $3625. Wooo Hooo.
Today brought us out of the cold Gallup, NM high dessert on I-40 then over the mountains, through the Salt River Canyon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_River_(Arizona)) and into Tempe, AZ our final destinations. Temperature ranges today were from 54 when we left Gallup (COOOOOLD) to 108 upon arrival (HOTTTTTTTT). When they say it is a dry heat they are right but 108 is 108 is 108. Lows are equal to Virginia's highs.
It has been a long ride guys and gals but well worth it.........
Today brought us out of the cold Gallup, NM high dessert on I-40 then over the mountains, through the Salt River Canyon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_River_(Arizona)) and into Tempe, AZ our final destinations. Temperature ranges today were from 54 when we left Gallup (COOOOOLD) to 108 upon arrival (HOTTTTTTTT). When they say it is a dry heat they are right but 108 is 108 is 108. Lows are equal to Virginia's highs.
It has been a long ride guys and gals but well worth it.........
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