Pennsylvania ALR Chapter 46 and other area Riders have been providing Sam Worley with a birthday parade and ride annually since he turned 100 four years ago.
Four years ago, a group of American Legion Riders from Chapter 46 in Chambersburg, Pa., decided to give World War II veteran and Post 46 Legionnaire Sam Worley a ride on the back of a motorcycle for his 100th birthday.
And every year since, those Riders – along with others throughout the state – have again come together to treat Worley to a birthday ride. Most recently, on June 10, more than 30 Legion Riders – some from as far as two hours away – and 10 vehicles provided Worley with a birthday parade near his home before taking him on a short ride on the back of one of the Riders’ motorcycles.
“We get chapters from all over. We put the word out,” said ride organizer Phil Campbell, a member of Sons of The American Legion Squadron 46 and the Department of Pennsylvania’s American Legion Riders director from 2022 to 2024. “They all come down for a 15-minute ride.”
Campbell said the birthday ride started when Worley, who served in the U.S. Army Air Force, was approaching 100 years old. “We talked about how Sam was a World War II veteran. Let’s just do something fun for him,” Campbell said. “His great niece is a good friend of mine, so I told her about it, and she thought it was a great idea. Then (Worley’s) son got on board, and it took off.”
The Riders meet up at Post 46 and ride across town to Worley’s house, where they do a few laps through the cul-de-sac before putting the veteran on the back of a motorcycle for a few more laps. Worley’s family then provides pizza and soft drinks for the Riders.
“Sam loves it,” Campbell said. “Everybody goes up and talks to Sam, and we just hang out for a while. He loves the Riders.”
Campbell said the Riders’ relationship with Worley, a past department Education & Scholarships chairman, goes beyond the birthday ride. A few years ago the then-department commander made raising money for the Samuel W. Worley Scholarship Endowment his special project. That year, Pennsylvania’s Legion Riders made the endowment their fundraiser for their in-state ride.
“He really loved us for doing that,” Campbell said. “We raised somewhere around $40,000 for that.”
Worley has served as Chambersburg’s mayor and as a Franklin County commissioner. He has been involved in numerous civic organizations while also carving out a successful career in banking.
He enjoys being recognized by the Riders and others in his community every year on his birthday.
"I just appreciate all my friends for coming out today, and it's very heartwarming to have them here," Worley told Fox 43. "I hope I'm around next year [and] that they can come back to see me again."
Campbell said seeing Worley’s reaction when the Riders show up “is heartwarming for all of us. We feel great about doing this, and we hope we can celebrate 105 next year.”
Watch video of the ride here.
- Riders