County buzzing with activity
BUTLER TWP — The Butler County American Legion Riders' 16th annual American Legion Veterans Benefit Ride got off to a roaring start Saturday.
About 180 motorcycle-riding members of area Legion posts took part in the 120-mile mystery ride that is part of a fundraiser with a goal of raising $10,000 to $12,000 that the organization uses to help military veterans in need.
In addition to the ride, the fundraiser includes a raffle with daily drawings over 24 days.At the conclusion of Saturday's ride, a drawing was held for a 2020 Indian Chieftain motorcycle, which costs about $28,000.The ride started and ended at American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora.
“This is our 16th annual ride. All the money we raise goes to the veterans,” said Leroy Bunyan, Legion Riders vice president.That includes the money the riders paid to join the ride and proceeds from raffle tickets, 50/50 drawings, an auction, T-shirt sales and food sold at the picnic at the end of the ride.A football autographed by retired Pittsburgh Steeler and Vietnam veteran Rocky Bleier was among the auction prizes.“The Legion Riders do a lot for veterans,” Bunyan said.
Some of the money raised goes to cover small costs such as electric bills and car repairs that veterans can't get help with from other sources.“We pick up the slack,” Bunyan said.The Riders also organize free trips for veterans and their wives and grandchildren to war memorials in Washington, D.C., the Naval Museum in Buffalo, N.Y., and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
The Riders provide motorcycle escorts and flag line salutes for service members returning, alive or dead, from overseas duty.“We bring them home,” Bunyan said.Flag lines for veterans' funerals are also provided upon request.Their efforts require a lot of planning, which begins in January for the annual ride.Raffle ticket sales begin in December and the motorcycles given away every year are purchased in the fall, Bunyan said.A dozen volunteers from Post 778 and the Riders set up and work at the annual ride, he said.
In the mystery ride, the riders travel to restaurants along a designated route receiving directions to the next stop upon arrival and get cards stamped at each stop.“We saw a bear,” said Tom McKee, a member of Legion Riders from Post 117 in Butler, who was riding with Kim Keeling on board his bike.“It was the first bear I've ever seen,” Keeling said.They said the staff at the stops they made used COVID-19 safety precautions.
“All the stops were safe,” Keeling said.The stops included the Beer Garden in Petrolia, the Blue Collar Tavern in Emlenton and the Mustang Bar in Mercer.“It was a great time,” McKee said.Dave and Lisa Cherry of Altoona said they also enjoyed the ride. Dave is a member of American Legion Post 281 in Altoona.They said they have friends in Butler and have come to the county to ride on many occasions.“Real nice ride,” said Dave Cherry, who plans to join the Legion Riders organization at his home post. “We ride here a lot.”
