Legion Riders: Goal is to report successes of Riders

I am so excited to be your new director of the Minnesota American Legion Riders! I am honored to be the first non-Legionnaire elected to this position.

I look forward to working with the leadership from the rest of the Legion Family. Commander Paul Hassing (yes, he is my husband), President Sharon Cross and Detachment Commander John Weiss.

The beginning of the Legion year is busy, especially for us Riders! I hope to see many of you during the Legacy Run July 27-30 whether it is for one hour, one day or the whole run. The times and stops for this year’s run are posted on www.mnlegacyrun.org.

On Aug. 19, we have the second annual Fund 85 Run. This year we will start and end at Forest Lake Post 225. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Kickstands go up at 9:30 a.m.  At the end of August, we will head to Charlotte for the American Legion National Convention and will turn-in the money raised during the Legion Run.

Umm, can we maintain first place? Virginia has announced their run raised $102,000. I challenge Minnesota to beat that total. After the National Convention is the Camporee (Sept. 7-10), and then the Romp (Sept. 14-17); both events are at Legionville. All Legion Family members are welcome to come to the Romp and learn more about your Legion Riders.

I know there are many other chapter runs and fundraisers happening across the state and that the chapters around the state of Minnesota support many different causes. My goal this year is to report all our successes to the Legion so that everyone in the Legion Family knows what the Riders do.

God bless and keep the rubber side down.

Jody Hassing of Bloomington Unit 550 is the director of the Minnesota American Legion Riders.