Tri-County American Legion Riders Receive Legacy Scholarship Award

The Tri-County Chapter of the American Legion Riders received the Legacy Scholarship Award from National Headquarters for donations to the scholarship fund last year. Many activities throughout the year result in significant contributions to this cause, all of which are forwarded to the National Headquarters of the American Legion.

The American Legion Legacy Scholarship 2022 is available to children whose parents lost their lives while honorably serving on active military duty on or after 9/11, as well as children of post-9/11 veterans with a combined VA disability rating of 50 percent or higher.

Since the Legacy Scholarship’s first grant in 2004, more than 430 military children of the fallen and disabled have received over $3.7 million in aid.

The Legacy Scholarship provides financial aid for graduate or post-graduate tuition, books, room and board, meal plans and other supplies needed to achieve a higher education. It is a needsbased scholarship – the grant amount each scholarship recipient will receive will be based on his or her financial need after all federal and state aid is exhausted. Recipients will have a year to use the grant and may reapply to the American Legion Legacy Scholarship up to six times.

Legacy Scholarship awards are made possible from donations to the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.

About the America Legion Riders

American Legion Riders chapters are well known for their charitable work, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children’s hospitals, schools, veterans’ homes, severely wounded service members and scholarships. Since 2006, Riders nationwide have participated in the American Legion Legacy Run to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, established to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military. Currently, over 110,000 American Legion Riders meet in over 2,000 chapters in every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries. Riders in Iowa have formed an honor guard called The Five Star Freedom Riders, and Riders in Mulvane, Kan., founded the Patriot Guard to protect the sanctity of military funerals from protesters. Riders in all states have escorted military units returning home from combat tours overseas, conducted massive cross-country fundraising events for wounded warriors from all services, and have raised millions of dollars for countless local, state and national charities. Many Riders, supported by their departments, conduct annual statewide Legacy Runs in direct support of American Legion scholarship programs of Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW), supporting our wounded service members across the nation.

True to the Legion’s grassroots tradition, each chapter manages its programs at the post level, where the best ideas are born.

The local organization in Schulenburg is called the Tri-County American Legion Riders and their purpose is to promote camaraderie among Veterans who ride motorcycles and their families while supporting the American Legion Family.

The Tri-County Chapter of the American Legion Riders was formed in Weimar in December of 2012, serving Colorado, Fayette, and Lavaca counties. The Chapter moved to Schulenburg in 2015 to be more centrally located within the counties it serves. Riders interested in joining the Tri-County Chapter can be affiliated with any of the organizations within the American Legion family in any of the three counties served. The Tri-County Riders actively support the missions and participate in activities of all the home posts of Rider members. With only two fundraisers a year, in the five years the Chapter has been active, over $12,000 has been raised and donated to local organizations and for the Legacy Scholarship. In addition to fundraising and service efforts, members participate in monthly rides and support ALR activities in the South Central ALR region. Members also participate annually in the National American Legion Legacy Ride in August. This year the ride is from Dodge City, Kansas to Reno, Nevada. Chapter meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post in Schulenburg, Texas. Anyone interested in joining is welcome to attend or contact Herb Fish, ALR Director at (979) 732-7598.

Rules to Become an American Legion Rider (ALR)

All members of The American Legion Riders shall be current members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion.

Each ALR member shall establish and maintain membership by owning, individually or through marriage, a motorcycle licensed and insured as required by state law.

ALR programs may allow for continued membership for those members who have given up motorcycle ownership because of age, illness, injury, or other reasons outside the member’s control.

All ALR members shall strive to maintain the image of The American Legion, at all times upholding The American Legion name and emblem, which symbolizes the integrity and principles of this great organization.

All The ALR groups shall avoid the perception of being a “motorcycle club” or biker club”.

The only recognized The American Legion Rider logo is that which is copyrighted and sold through The American Legion National Emblem sales.

All Members will obey the motorcycle laws of their state.

American Legion Rider groups shall abide by The American Legion Constitution and By-laws as well as the established Post and Department directives.