We are counting down till the start of the 9th Annual Maryland Gold Star Legacy Run. On Friday morning June 7,2024 we will start our 9th Run. However, this year like last, the festivities will start on Thursday night at Harry White-Wilmer Post 82 in LaPlata with a dinner and hopefully collecting some donations for this year’s cause. Veterans and Childrens Foundation. Post 82 came in 2nd place in last year’s contest for Largest Legion Family Donor with a donation totaling $50,635.00. The Gold Star will leave Harry White-Wilmer Post 82 and is heading to Laurel Post 60. Last year Laurel won the 1st Place Plague for the largest Legion Family Donor with a donation of $51,086.00. At this stop, Laurel will turnover the Largest Donor traveling plaque. We won’t know till the dust settles whose Legion Family name will be added to the plaque. We will depart Laurel Post 60 for a wreath laying ceremony at the Annapolis Gold Star Families Memorial. This is always a special time when you remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and their families that have as well. We will depart the Memorial for the Eastern Shore where we will be having lunch at Kent Island Post 278 in Stevensville and then on to dinner at Dor-Wic Post 218 in Sharptown to finish Day One. On Saturday June 8th, we will leave the Holiday Inn in Delmar for our first stop at Talbot Post 70 and home of Department Commander Ruth Higgins for a morning snack. After leaving Easton, we will be stopping in Centreville for one of our favorite stops at Jeff Davis Post 18 for hopefully a visit from the Heritage Girls. Departing Post 18, we will be heading to Rock Hall for lunch at Sgt. Preston Ashley Post 228. We have never been disappointed in the treatment they have given us in the past and I’m sure it will be that way again. When we leave Post 228, we will be heading around the bay to Joseph L. Davis Post 47 in Havre De Grace for dinner and our final stop on Day Two. Sunday June 9th will be a short day for all participating. We will be departing from our hotel for a visit to the Gold Star Families Memorial in Havre De Grace. Once we complete our wreath laying, we will have completed our weekend Run with over 350 miles traveled, two Regions, 5 districts and 8 Post homes visited. We are hoping to raise $100,000.00 for VCF. Following is a little more about this Charity. The National Organization of The American Legion has asked the National American Legion Riders Committee to take on this new challenge. The Veterans and Children Foundation is another American Legion 501 C (3) charity that provides financial grants to soldiers and veterans that have children and are having financial difficulty, and as important, to fund the training of our American Legion Service Officers. These services officers fight daily to help our veterans get the service-connected benefits they are entitled to. Millions of dollars a year are going to help our veterans in need from the VA that might not otherwise have been received. With your help we will reach this goal. Please send all donations to Towson ALR 22 located at 125 York Road Towson, MD 21204 or you can present them at any of our stops on the 2024 Run to get credit from the Gold Star and from the National Organization. Together we can make Maryland the largest donor again. We mailed our ride packet out in March; however, we need you to start planning now and to start raising funds for this cause. It will be interesting to see what Legion Family receives that Top Donor Plague at the Department Convention in July 2024 and to see whose name will join the list of past winners of this coveted award!
United In Service
Joe Gladden
Towson ALR 22
Past SAL National Commander
johnehorner@verizon.net
Registration: $50.00 per Bike
