I wrote this a few years ago and the friend mentioned at the end was my good friend Greg "EBay" Hansen. He was a good deal responsible for me becoming a Legion Rider and being as active as I have been. This is still how I feel today and I have no better way of expressing what being an American Legion Rider is to me.
After reading this, please share your comments on Why and What the Legion Riders is to you.
Thanks,
Don "Bulldog" Behrens
Kansas American Legion Riders
Area Director
Lately while searching for more ways to entice more members into being more active, I decided to list why I had become An American Legion Rider.I had already been involved with the American Legion as both Legion and S.A.L., Charity Golf and Bowling Tournaments. I rarely even walked into the Post. Now I walk into several Posts and known on site.
I was already a member of the Patriot Guard, but I saw something while attending Missions and Homecomings that drew me into it. I saw something that I had not seen since my active duty service, most particularly during my time in Vietnam. The Camaraderie from that time period, I saw between Legion Riders. What was most amazing, it was not only shared between Vietnam Vets, it was shared between everyone in the Riders, SAL and Aux alike. I have never seen this ever before. I was drawn to it and wanted to be a part of it. I have not seen this sharing between the Regular Legion, SAL, and Aux, only in the Legion Riders and those that become involved with Us.
Being An American Legion Rider is very Special to Me and everyday becomes more so. It has shown me programs within the Legion that I didn't have a clue existed. Those programs must continue and being First and Foremost a Legionnaire (Something that came to me after becoming involved) it will take my generation and the following generations to do it. Another thing that the Legion Riders has been able to do, is to bridge the generation gap and bring several generations together to work together.
This was originally was only for myself, but after speaking with a Friend, he wanted to see it, so I thought I would share it. We have something very Special in the Kansas American Legion Riders, that even other States haven't seen as yet. I hope that it will continue to blossom.
Thank All of You for Sharing With Me,
Don "Bulldog" Behrens
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2 comments:
The latest Consolidated Post Report (CPR) is now being compiled at National Headquarters. With less than 70 percent of the American Legion Posts having submitted the annual report, the early numbers reported here in Internal Affairs show that we have more than 104,000 American Legion Riders worldwide.
With 30% left to go, let's say we have roughly 120,000 American Legion Riders now. I would say a fair goal for next year would be,
(basing on the growth of the last couple of years) to end next year with 200,000 American Legion Riders. With the percentages, that would mean we should pick up 22,000
existing Legion Family Members that buy a motorcycle to become a Rider, and 58,000 NEW American Family Members. Sounds good to me....
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