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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

American Legion Chilton County Post 216 Commander Mike Hall and American Legion riders from across Alabama made their way into Clanton on July 13 for a stop along the 2024 Heart of Dixie Legacy Run. During the stop, 56 riders were joined by Clanton Mayor Jeff Mims to show support and remember veterans across Alabama, and the nation.

The state legacy run featured American Legion riders from across Alabama, and some came in from Tennessee and Florida to participate as well. The ride raises money and gets riders ready for the national event in August — The American Legion Legacy Run.

The 2024 Heart of Dixie Legacy Run wanted to visit a place during the ride that went through the center of the state, and what better place than the geographical center of Alabama in downtown Clanton. Hall reached out to Mims and the Clanton Police, and they coordinated traffic to allow the riders a chance to visit the Chilton County Veterans Memorial outside the Chilton County Courthouse. The riders presented Mims and the City of Clanton a plaque for their support of the legacy run, and they laid a floral arrangement at the memorial to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“It meant a lot to (American Legion Post 216), and we have a large veteran presence here in Chilton County,” Hall said. “Anything we can do to reach out to them and let them know we are here we try to do. It means a lot, and it is near and dear to my heart the things we do at the American Legion for our veterans.”

In the past, the American Legion Legacy Run has raised money for scholarships that the nonprofit awards to children of veterans who are either killed in action, or are 50% or more disabled post Sept. 11, 2001. Currently, the American Legion has raised enough money to sustain the scholarship fund until 2035, so a new mission for the legacy run this year was put in place.

The new mission will be raising money to support the American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation, which helps house and feed children of military personnel and veterans that are experiencing unexpected hardships such as natural disasters or unforeseen unemployment.

The 18th installment of The American Legion Legacy Run will be from Aug. 18-22 and span 1,100 miles. The run will start at American Legion Post 21 in Independence, Missouri, and leave from there to escort the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Missouri Veterans Home during day one. Day two will go through Arkansas, followed by days three and four in Louisiana and Mississippi. While in Louisiana and Mississippi, the riders will visit West Monroe, Louisiana and the Duck Commander headquarters, and Camp Shelby outside at Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The last day of the legacy run will head towards the sight of the 105th American Legion National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. While riding into New Orleans, the riders will get the opportunity to ride across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, the longest continuous span over water in the world.

Combining his love of riding motorcycles and veterans sparked Hall’s desire to do the legacy runs each year. He said the comradery the runs provide amongst veterans who all served in different branches, but all for one nation, is something Hall really enjoys about them.

“It is a chance for us to meet up with our fellow veterans throughout the state, and even when we do our national ride,” Hall said. “We consider ourselves family, we have all served and when we meet up with groups of people we do not see for a whole year it is like a family reunion. We are all focused on the same mission, and it is just good to see those men and women each year.”

Donations to the American Legion Legacy Run can be mailed to American Legion Chilton County Post 216 at PO Box 1366, Clanton, AL 35046.