Veterans from all over West Virginia travel across the state on a four-day trip to raise money for the inaugural Legacy race.
Commander John Powell pitched the idea in late 2020, starting with an annual fundraiser for the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, which provides money for the children of U.S. military personnel killed or injured after Sept. 11. September.
Typically, US Legions across the country will have a one-day race to raise money, but Powell wanted to do something “special.”
Commander John Powell of the West Virginia Department of the United States Legion
“I just decided, coming out of the back of the pandemic, I’m the department commander, I want to do something a little different: spread the word, tour the entire state of West Virginia and raise some money,” Powell told Fox. News.
Powell, who served 20 years in the Navy, said the “race” was also aimed at raising awareness for the Legion itself: some reports have found that 22 veterans commit suicide every day; most of them, Powell says, are not connected to a veterans organization.
“We want to spread the word that the US Legion is still here,” Powell explained. “We are relevant, we are young and vibrant, and we try to attract some new members.”
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During the first two days, the cyclists have covered 540 miles. In each city, riders stop at the local American Legion to raise money, all of which will go toward the scholarship fund.
So far, Powell believes the riders have raised about $ 8,000 and more to come. In Bluefield, the riders met with a Harley Davidson Bike Night, which will send all proceeds to the scholarship fund.
The riders are aiming to raise $ 20,000 over the weekend.
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The first day saw 70 riders, dropping to around 40 on Friday, but Powell expects to pick up a “huge” number of bikes on Saturday.
The route will take riders to Logan and Parkersburg on Saturday before heading to Wheeling, Powell’s hometown and the self-proclaimed “oldest outpost” in the country, where it will host a welcome dinner.
What he appreciates more than anything, though, are the little tributes that riders see along the way.
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“It was in Petersburg, I wish I had a picture of him, there was a young gentleman, who couldn’t have been more than 10 years old, waving as we passed,” Powell recalled. “No parents, no friends around, just something to see.”
“Yesterday there were at least three people parking on the side of the road to film us passing. It was something”.
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“This is the first race we’ve done and it definitely won’t be the last,” Powell promised.
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