Two canines have become popular participants on this year’s Legacy Run.
More than 300 American Legion Riders registered for this year’s Legacy Run. There also were dozens of passengers signed up to participate.
And though all those passengers are greatly appreciated, two have particularly stuck out: Caesar and Crossbones.
And no, those are not nicknames. One is a standard poodle, the other a toy poodle. And both are a welcome addition to this year’s ride.
“It’s awesome. He doesn’t like to go to a kennel, because for some reason he doesn’t think he’s a dog. He thinks he’s a human,” said Joshuajun Hinton, a member of Post and ALR Chapter 197 in Jacksonville, Fla., and one of Crossbones’ owners. “He loves seeing all the people: people petting him and talking to him. He just loves it.”
A 12-year-old toy poodle, Crossbones is riding on the back of the motorcycle of Joshuajun, who is on the ride with her husband, Chapter 197 Director Mark Hinton. The dog is no stranger to motorcycles.
“We have quite a few motorcycles at home … so he’s always around the motorcycles,” Joshuajun said. “So, every time his dad pulls a motorcycle out to clean it, he comes and wants to get in it. So, he knows motorcycles are our way of life. He just gets in there and rides around.”
The pup also is an experienced rider. “Crossbones has been riding for about two years now,” Joshuajun said. “His brother passed away. They were tied at the hip, so since he didn’t have anybody, he got a little anxiety. He wants to go everywhere with us. So, we just put him on the back of the motorcycle, and he’s been riding ever since.”
Caesar, meanwhile, is a 20-week-old standard poodle and is the service dog for Angel Christin, a member of Post 268 in Riviera, Fla., and Florida’s District 11 adjutant. Christin is on the ride with a few Chapter 268 members, including Director Jason Christin – her husband.
Caesar is 20 weeks old and has been Angel’s service dog for nine of those, being provided by the Florida-based Paws 4 Liberty. Day 3 of the Legacy Run was only his sixth day of actually riding, but he’d gotten used to being on a motorcycle before that.
“I’ll be honest: We started getting him acclimated to his seat about two months before the ride,” Angel said. “He jumped up on the bike and was ready to go.”
And her dog has been doing well, despite the southern heat. “He loves the ride. Honestly, I think he does better with the heat than we do.,” she said. “We take precautions. We make sure every time we stop, he drinks water. We wet him down if it’s really, really hot. He’s got sun shades.”
And he provides a level of security to his owner. “I love the fact that I have him so close to me,” Angel said. “That I’m able to do this with him.”
Coming Through in a Pinch. Monday evening, Legacy Run leadership learned that their original rally point for mid-afternoon in Charleston had fallen through. But through a series of phone calls, and an exceptional effort by a local Riders chapter, the ride found a place to stage its motorcycles – and then some.
With South Carolina Legionnaires working with ride leadership, word reached American Legion Post 147 in James Island that the Riders needed a place gather after the day’s gas stop in Mount Pleasant.
And its Riders chapter didn’t hesitate to meet the challenge. In addition to providing the Riders with a place to park their motorcycles, it also served hot dogs, chips and water to those on the ride. And they did so with less than 20 hours of prep time.
“We’re all brothers. Whether you’re a veteran or a supporter of a veteran, we’re brothers,” Post 147 Commander and Chapter Director Thaddeus “Ted” Sikorski said. “People don’t understand the importance of The American Legion and of what (the Riders) are doing. That’s why we did it.
“They called, and last night just happened to be our meeting. All of my Riders, with the exception of those who had to work, jumped on this and said, ‘Let’s do this.’”
It made Sikorski proud to see the way his chapter responded. “They’re a phenomenal group, and they’re the ones who pulled it off,” he said. “This is something we had to do. We can’t let (the Legacy Run participants) just try to figure out a parking lot or something. It’s a great event.”
Post 147 Legionnaire and Rider Ron Tucker, who was moving throughout the post, helping with just about everything – to include facilitating swaps of license plates from his post with Riders and their posts’ plates.
“The Legion Riders have a can-do attitude,” Tucker said. “The Legion Riders here at Post 147 … we don’t say no.”
Assistant Chief Road Captain David Heredia, who just wrapped up a year as commander of the Department of Maryland and worked with the post and others to coordinate the stop, came away impressed.
“I’m all about family. And that’s what this is,” he said. “When a post understands the importance of supporting the cause that we’re doing. The (post) leadership was more than happy to step up. They know the importance of what the mission is: the (Veterans and Children Foundation).”
Roadside Support. In what has become a highlight for many of the Riders, local schoolchildren lined the route in support of those taking part in the Legacy Run.
Dozens of students from St. James-Santee Elementary and Middle School in McClellanville, S.C., stood alongside 17 South, waving U.S. flags and cheering as the procession of 270-plus motorcycles drove by. And in Mount Pleasant, Wando High School students – including those taking part in JROTC – also stood outside to share their support.
“It is so important for our children to be aware and to be knowledgeable about our military system,” St. James-Santee Principal LaCarma McMillan said. “We live in an amazing country. Those who have fought, those who have been a part of our U.S. military, it just means so much … for our children to see veterans and their family members participate in such a meaningful activity.”
Two of the veterans on staff at the school, bookkeeper’s secretary Shelia Deas and Student Concerns Specialist Virgil Hockaday – Deas an Air Force veteran, Hockaday a former member of the Army – also stood outside to support the ride.
Deas said watching the procession was “just amazing. It was just so heartfelt. There were so many of (the Riders). I really enjoyed seeing this.”
Hockaday said he planned to talk in depth with the students about what they witnessed and had praise for those taking part in the Legacy Run.
“They have served their country. And now they’re continuing to serve,” Hockaday said. “And we’re thankful for the fact we still have a country as great as ours, with great people still wanted to do great things.”
Georgia Legion Rider Carl Brady, the director of Willie B. Hatcher American Legion Riders Chapter 516 in McDonough, Ga., and sergeant-at-arms of Georgia’s Fourth District, appreciated the show of support.
“Emotionally, it’s a good thing. It’s a heart-felt, warm, welcome-home feeling,” he said. “It’s good to see the kids out there. And they’ll remember, hopefully, the event where all these motorcycles rode through their neighborhood or school, and they got to see them.”
Brady is on his second Legacy Run and was very clear when it came to his reason for coming back this year. “It’s the people. Comrades-in-arms,” he said. “We’ll always find something in common. And that brings us together, and that’s why we’re here. And that’s why we do what we do.”
Amazed by the Ride. The day began with a parking lot stop at Walmart in Georgetown, S.C. The Riders got a chance to take a break, while a veteran working at the store got a chance to see the Legacy Run on full display.
“I did not know what to expect until I was out there now actually seeing it. It’s amazing,” said Store Manager Latrina McCrea, who retired from the U.S. Army as a master sergeant in 2021. “This is the first time I’ve seen this many bikes in our parking lot. Our customers are amazed in the store. Everyone is stopping in wanting to know what’s going on.”
McCrea was happy to facilitate the stop. “I’m a veteran,” she said. “Because I’m a veteran, I want to support other veterans. And it’s a good cause.”
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