The Republican (MA)
One of the pleasant side effects of the motorcycle boom of the last few years is that it has given a few of the more traditional civic and patriotic organizations a chance to bolster their dwindling ranks by adding riding groups to their numbers.
These include the Melha Riders (an offshoot of the Melha Shriners) and more so the American Legion Riders, sprung forth from the traditional American Legion ranks. A prime example of the Legion Riders in our area is the group out of Easthampton, the American Legion Riders of the Dalton Lavallee Post 226. Post 226's riding members' number around 30 and the group was started about five years ago.
"What we were able to do," says George Demsick, president of the group, "was to get a bunch of us veterans together that love to ride, and combine that passion with the traditional civic duties of your standard legion. This also allowed for an infusion of new blood into an organization whose ranks were growing smaller over the years."
In addition to getting together just to ride, the group participates in traditional parades and ceremonies, such as Fourth of July and Memorial Day's Rolling Thunder, as well as supporting the P.O.W. and M.I.A. issue.
"First and foremost," says Demsick, "we ride to support the veteran. Whether it is someone who is down on his or her luck, someone that needs help with their veteran's affairs or just somebody that needs a place to stay. We are here for them."
The group also supports the armed forces around the world by doing such things as sending care packages to our troops in need. It might be something as small as a pair of socks. They also routinely help out with local community needs and fund-raisers as well.
"Plus we get to ride and have fun on top of it. Most of the wives and girlfriends get involved also," says Demsick.
The American Legion Riders' ranks have also grown on a national scale, as there are many groups spread out across the country. You would be hard-pressed to find a town in America that didn't have a Legion or a V.F.W. Some of the other local American Legion Rider groups in our area include Westfield and Dalton, with these groups routinely getting together for various functions.
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One of the pleasant side effects of the motorcycle boom of the last few years is that it has given a few of the more traditional civic and patriotic organizations a chance to bolster their dwindling ranks by adding riding groups to their numbers.
These include the Melha Riders (an offshoot of the Melha Shriners) and more so the American Legion Riders, sprung forth from the traditional American Legion ranks. A prime example of the Legion Riders in our area is the group out of Easthampton, the American Legion Riders of the Dalton Lavallee Post 226. Post 226's riding members' number around 30 and the group was started about five years ago.
"What we were able to do," says George Demsick, president of the group, "was to get a bunch of us veterans together that love to ride, and combine that passion with the traditional civic duties of your standard legion. This also allowed for an infusion of new blood into an organization whose ranks were growing smaller over the years."
In addition to getting together just to ride, the group participates in traditional parades and ceremonies, such as Fourth of July and Memorial Day's Rolling Thunder, as well as supporting the P.O.W. and M.I.A. issue.
"First and foremost," says Demsick, "we ride to support the veteran. Whether it is someone who is down on his or her luck, someone that needs help with their veteran's affairs or just somebody that needs a place to stay. We are here for them."
The group also supports the armed forces around the world by doing such things as sending care packages to our troops in need. It might be something as small as a pair of socks. They also routinely help out with local community needs and fund-raisers as well.
"Plus we get to ride and have fun on top of it. Most of the wives and girlfriends get involved also," says Demsick.
The American Legion Riders' ranks have also grown on a national scale, as there are many groups spread out across the country. You would be hard-pressed to find a town in America that didn't have a Legion or a V.F.W. Some of the other local American Legion Rider groups in our area include Westfield and Dalton, with these groups routinely getting together for various functions.
