Day’s final stop at Iowa State University includes opportunity to recognize a 90-year-old Rider who took part in the first Legacy Run in 2006.
The final stop on Day 1 of the 20th anniversary of The American Legion Legacy Run was at Gold Star Hall in the Memorial Union on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames. But in addition to honoring those names etched on the walls of Gold Star Hall, the ride participants also had the privilege to honor a 90-year-old participant who took part in the first Legacy Run.
Marilyn Freel, a member of both American Legion Post and American Legion Riders Chapter 37 in Ames, took part in the 2006 Legacy Run that traveled from Indianapolis to Salt Lake City. She went on to participate in the next six and rode her own Harley-Davidson more than 100,000 miles.
Her husband Everett, who passed away three years ago, was instrumental in starting the first Legion Riders chapter at Post 731 in Des Moines in 2002; in 2006, Chapter 37 in Ames was formed.
Marilyn’s son, Gary Freel, read remarks from his mother. In those, she said that the first Legacy Run raising $179,000 “really startled everyone.” She added that, “I made so many friends on these rides and kept seeing them each year.”
National American Legion Riders Chairman and Legacy Run Chief Road Captain David Heredia Jr. called Freel “a true champion of hope. And all of these men and women here are proud of you.”
Heredia said the stop at the hall was important because it’s a Legion Family responsibility “to ensure that their stories continue to be told. That their names are always remembered. It is our job, as Legion Family members, to always honor their memories.”
Brad Hill, Associate Director of the Memorial Union for Operations, provided a history of both the Memorial Union and the Gold Star Hall. “This is a living memorial that we have,” he said. “It’s here to make sure that … we keep the lives and remembrances of all those that have given the ultimate sacrifice.”
After honoring Freel, members of the ride witnessed a wreath-laying ceremony by Heredia and American Legion Past National Commander Dave Rehbein in the Gold Star Hall, which contains the names of approximately 600 U.S. servicemembers who attended Iowa State and died serving their country during war.
Before the events inside the Union, Department of Iowa Commander Don DeKock was among the Iowa Legion Family members greeting the ride at ISU’s Memorial Union. He wanted to be on hand, “to welcome all of the Riders into town. The Riders, obviously, do a lot of different things raise a lot of money in a lot of different ways, and not only in Iowa, but truly across the nation.”
Riding for Her Father. In addition to funding The American Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance program, the Veterans & Children Foundation – the cause behind the Legacy Run – the VCF also covers the cost of training American Legion service officers. And that’s why one of the Legacy Run’s participants is taking part in this year’s ride.
American Legion Auxiliary Past National Vice President Ann Rehbein spent the first day riding on the back of Maryland Legion Rider Bob Ouellette’s motorcycle. The current vice-chairman of Iowa’s American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Committee and the wife of American Legion Past National Commander Dave Rehbein has a specific reason for taking part in this year’s ride.
“I’ve always loved the ride. I did it in 2009 when my husband was national commander. I rode the whole ride then,” Rehbein said. “But my main purpose for riding is to honor my dad (Army veteran John Grutsch). My dad came home from World War II. He was the commander of the post in O’Neill, Neb.
“But more importantly, his employment was as the county service officer. And this ride benefits service officers in their training. So it’s especially near and dear to my heart.”
Rehbein, who also serves as national treasurer of Quilts of Valor, again is helping with the fundraising on this year’s ride. She knitted a quilt to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday. The quilt is being raffled off and will be presented to the winner on the ride’s final evening stop.
A quilt knitted by Rehbein brought in $4,000 for the Veterans & Children Foundation during the 2025 National Convention in Tampa, which prompted a request for her to create another one for this year’s ride.
“I’ve been making quilts a long time,” Rehbein said. “To have somebody specifically ask you to do that and know that it’s going toward a good cause … it’s especially heartwarming, for sure.”
Warm Receptions. A fuel stop at Taylor’s convenience store in Missouri Valley, Iowa, saw American Legion Family members from Iowa’s District 7 lining the entrance into the gas station with U.S. flags and service flags to welcome the ride. The effort came about through a collaborative effort between American Legion Post and Chapter 2 in Council Bluffs and Post and Chapter 141 in Glenwood.
“This has been a 100-percent group effort,” Chapter 2 Director Larry Culver said. “And it’s the right thing to do. This is for a good cause. It’s the American way. And it’s about the people that are doing (the ride). They’ve giving their time for other families, other children. I wanted to honor them.”
Later on in Carroll County, along U.S. 30, the ride was witness to an incredible show of support from various communities. Residents of Westside, Denison and other communities along the way showed up in full force, waving U.S. flags and cheering on the Riders. The Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department had trucks lined up along the route; a large U.S. flag also greeted the Riders, hanging in front of Towers’ Legendary Harley-Davidson just down from the day’s second gas stop at Sinclair Gas Station in Carroll.
Detachment of Kansas adjutant and state ALR Sons of The American Legion Liaison Chad Kroeger has been a part of 18 national Legacy Runs. He never tires of seeing receptions like the one the ride received Sunday afternoon.
“It always lifts your spirits,” Kroeger said. “It seems to be toward the latter part of the day when everyone’s starting to get a little tired, a little hot – although we had beautiful weather today. All these folks that lined the streets in these little towns were fantastic. Everybody from little kids waving flags to grandparents and great-grandparents. It never gets old.”
A Look at Aviation History. The day’s first stop was at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Neb., which was built as a state-of-the-art center for housing the aircraft and artifacts used by the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War.
Ride participants got to hear a first-person account of SAC from Department of Missouri Alternate National Executive Committeeman and Past National ALR Chairman Mark Clark, who spent 10 of his 30 years in the Air Force working in SAC.
“From 1946 to 1992, the Strategic Air Command was the preeminent force on the globe,” Clark said. “I was proud to be a part of SAC for 10 years.”
Clark, who joined Heredia in placing the wreath at the museum, also had time for a little levity. “I hope you all have enjoyed looking at these historic aircraft,” he said. “I told somebody earlier, ‘You know you’ve been around a long time when half the airplanes you worked on are in the museum.’”
During the stop, Riders had the opportunity to purchase long-sleeved t-shirts created by the museum that honored the Legacy Run’s 20th anniversary.
Lunch Stop in Gretna. The second stop of the day was in nearby Gretna, Neb., where ride participants were provided a lunch of smashburgers and fries. Post leadership said hosting the stop was an easy decision.
“It was a great opportunity. How could we turn it down?” Post 216 Adjutant Jeff Johnson said. “It’s good for the community. And anything to support veterans and their families, that’s why the Legion exists.”
Post 216 Commander Jason Johnson had the same sentiment. “We believe in the mission of the Legion and the Legion Riders, and we want to support the Legion and our community any way we can,” he said.
Donations Grow. The day started with a $26,000 donation from the North Carolina State Legacy Run and ended with $5,000 donated by the Department of Arkansas. In-between included $10,344 from Iowa’s Eighth District, which helped Sunday’s donation total hit more than $45,000. The total raised so far: $308,652.
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