A generous start to the Legacy Run
American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett speaks to Legion Riders during the 2016 Legacy Run kickoff event at Post 64 in Indianapolis on Saturday, Aug. 20. (Photo by Clay Lomneth)

A generous start to the Legacy Run

The donations flowed freely at the kickoff for the 2016 American Legion Legacy Run – and not just for the Legacy Fund itself.

Hundreds of Legion Riders, along with other Legion family members, gathered at Kenneth N. Dowden Wayne Post 64 in Indianapolis for the annual pre-Legacy Run event. More than $102,000 was presented to National Commander Dale Barnett during the night – including more than $15,000 from the host post and $13,500 from the Department of Maryland from its own state Legacy Run – for the Legacy Fund. Additional donations will be made during the course of the next five days, as the ride travels more than 1,300 miles across seven states.

“The Legacy Run is more than just a motorcycle ride,” said National Commander Dale Barnett, who will travel on the entire Run with the Legion Riders. “It’s a reminder to all of us of those who have served and the Legacy they leave behind. It provides us perspective and demonstrates what The American Legion and our service is all about.”

Heading into the ride, more than $300,000 has been donated so far.

“Sometimes we lose sight of what we do, who we do it for and why we do it,” Legacy Run Chief Road Captain Bob Sussan said. “We ride for the kids. And if all goes well, by the end we will have raised … $1.25-$1.5 million for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.”

Part of the kickoff event included an Operation Comfort Warriors donation of 300 MP3 players to the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis for its Sleep Study Clinic. The MP3 players are pre-loaded with a program that will help a veteran get into his or her REM-cycle of sleep without having to use medication.

“We really appreciate your support and thoughtful gift, a generous gift, that will really comfort the veterans that are undergoing sleep studies,” said Dr. Imtiaz Munshi, Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Associate Director at the VAMC. “

Barnett praised the Department of Indiana for its overall OCW fundraising efforts, as well as past Department of Indiana Auxiliary President Ruth Rairdon for helping raise $30,000 for the fund during her tenure.

Those at the kickoff event also were treated to a special preview of the new Discovery Channel miniseries “Harley and the Davidsons.” The miniseries chronicles the creation of the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycle company.

The ride was scheduled to leave Indianapolis at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 21.