This year’s Legacy Run was attended by 7 Dragon Riders from China Post 1 (Mike ‘KNine’ Judge, Lewis ‘Socko’ Reeder, Diane ‘Mrs. Socko’ Reeder, Leroy ‘Kiknbk’ Cockrell, Linda Cockrell, Dave Adam and Hans ‘Stroke’ Stockenberger).
Legion Riders gathered on stage during the 100th National Convention in Minneapolis after the run to present donations. In total, a record $1,256,930 was raised – the fifth straight year the ride helped raise more than $1 million.
The Department of Minnesota led the way, donating $251,000 on the convention floor -- $51,000 more than the department delivered a year ago. Other top department donations were the departments of Missouri ($93,324), South Carolina ($65,204), Florida ($57,005), Wisconsin ($45,439), and Kansas ($27,717). And Stevens-Christian Post 557 in Wintersville, Ohio, contributed $15,000. Stockenberger presented the check from China Post 1 in the amount of $2,250.
The five-day Legacy Run left Kansas and traveled through Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin before finishing outside Minneapolis. More than 200 motorcycles completed the ride. The American Legion Riders raised $600,000 for the Legion’s Legacy Scholarship Fund during the 1,000-mile Legacy Run from Hutchinson, Kan., to Minneapolis.
The Legacy Fund provides college money for the children of U.S. military personnel killed on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, as well as children of post-9/11 veterans with a combined VA disability rating of 50 percent or higher.