Legacy Run Chief Road Captain Ken Nadeau talks planning the ride, what to expect on it and the critical role played by the Veterans & Children Foundation, for which the ride fundraises.
On Aug. 17, the 19th annual American Legion Legacy Run will depart American Legion Post 8 in South Boston, Va., travel through North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and finish up just outside of Tampa, Fla. (register here).
New Mexico Legionnaire Ken “Lucky” Nadeau has been on eight previous Legacy Runs, serving as a flight captain, a road guard and then the chief road guard, overseeing the safety and logistics of the ride.
But this year, Nadeau is taking on a different role: that of the Legacy Run chief road captain. The Department of New Mexico’s Area 3 vice commander and state Legion Riders director will now lead the ride from start to finish. And he’s been integral in the planning of this year’s route.
During the Legion’s annual Spring Meetings in Indianapolis, Nadea – past commander of American Legion Post 90 in Los Alamos and a consultant for the National American Legion Riders Advisory Committee – talked with American Legion Social Media Manager Steven B. Brooks about taking on the role of chief road captain, highlights of this year’s ride and the critical mission of the Veterans & Children Foundation, for which the ride fundraises.
Steven B. Brooks: This is your first year as chief road captain. Talk about what the experience has been like planning a ride of this size and distance?
Ken Nadeau: Normally, working within a department – having the available resources, knowing your local officials, knowing your law enforcement, knowing the cause that you’re riding for – is a pretty standard process. Planning the national Legacy Run is quite the challenge because you’re outside of your known element and working with multiple departments across thousands of miles. Not just for the ride itself, but for the logistics associated with getting from your home state all the way to your start point as well, and back. So, being able to work in other departments with other people for a known cause, and being able to get everybody to work together into a single vision that culminates in an event that is hosted for hundreds of people over a week’s time, is a challenge. And having unknowns – roads, weather, hotel availability, being able to gain support from your local law enforcement, etc. – is a challenge. And we look forward to doing it. We recreate this ride every year, and you’re going into a whole new setup every single time.
Question: What are some of the daily highlights from this year’s ride, whether it be special stops or events along the way?
Nadeau: Daily stops this year are associated with multiple different maritime memorials. We’ll have wreath layings at the USS North Carolina, USS Yorktown, the POW MIA Memorial. We’ll actually have a few different entertainment options and stop at multiple posts. Those areas stretch from Virginia all the way through North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. We look forward to being able to provide everybody a unique experience of being able to touch the Atlantic Ocean and potentially even the Gulf of Mexico.
Question: Why is it important to incorporate American Legion posts on these stops and involve local posts in the national Legacy Run?
Nadeau: The (American Legion’s) main element is the blue-cap Legionnaire. And we want to have as many people a part of this event as possible. This is not an exclusive event. This is an opportunity … of inclusion. It’s an opportunity to be able to engage every member that we possibly can through all of the departments we travel in. We have an established program that counts on everybody’s camaraderie and working together. So having their participate as much as possible is key in ensuring the message of The American Legion is prominent, is represented well, and we are able to support the veterans and children throughout the country that we swore an oath to when we became part of The American Legion, but also when we decided to stand up as servicemembers for this great nation.
Question: What kind of scenery can the Riders expect on this year’s ride?
Nadeau: You’re going to see scenery in this ride that will take you through the East Coast region of the United States. You’ll start off and have some rolling hills, some nice forests that we’ll end up going through. We’ll even be able to touch the ocean near Myrtle Beach. You’ll be able to see the Gulf Coast in Tampa. We’ve got opportunities going across some of the wetlands in Florida. You’ll see lots of gentle hills. We’re praying for (good) weather. It’s always an unknown, but we work through it.
Question: Why is the cause behind the ride, the Veterans & Children Foundation, so critical?
Nadeau: The Veterans & Children Foundation often is referred to as “a foundation of hope”. When all of us signed up as servicemen and women, we went to work with people from all over the country in our various jobs. You swore an oath not just … this country, but you made a pledge to each other, giving each other the hope and the opportunity that if something were to happen … that your children, that your family would be taken care of. Being able to do that is a huge honor, and it puts us in a place where can make sure we can fulfill that promise to each other. Not necessarily just as servicemembers and veterans, but as human beings. We’ve got make sure we’re standing up for one another … and make sure that our veterans get qualified veteran service officers to help them reach the benefits they need to take care of themselves. To be able to take care of their families in times of need.
Question: Why take on this responsibility?
Nadeau: I’m proud as heck of The American Legion and the American Legion Rider program for the accomplishments that have been made and the outreach we have made. The differences made within the communities within different departments from the programs it’s put on. I can’t say enough about how amazing this opportunity to represent everybody, and to keep them safe, to ensure we build this program in the right direction and have continued success and build it forward. It’s an amazing opportunity, and I’m proud to be able to be in that position and follow through with the legacy and the example that have been set before me.
Question: What would you like the ride participants to take away from this year’s Legacy Run?
Nadeau: I would like to see Riders from all over this country come together as one whole group. Have a great time. Build their camaraderie with one another. And understand it’s not just wearing a set of patches, it’s not just the Veterans & Children Foundation. It’s everybody coming together as one, pulling on the rope in the same direction. To be able to work together to achieve a common cause. But at the same time, have a great time together. Enjoy one another’s company. Get to know one another. Being able to connect on a daily basis, hour by hour, minute by minute, building trust with one another and coming together as a community of veterans and people from across the nation goes a long way in doing a lot of healing, and putting this country and this organization into a great place where we can really affect each other in a positive way.”
- Riders