The American Legion Riders of Iowa, Marion Chapter 298

Our meetings are the third Saturday of each month at 9 A.M.

The Marion American Legion Riders Chapter began in the summer of 2007.  

One of our stated goals is to ride in Rolling Thunder with as many members as we can.  Rolling Thunder is Sunday May 27th of 2012.  I've been told that there were over 400,000 motorcycles in the Pentagon parking lot, the staging point before the ride through the capital.

Another goal is to help raise funds for the Legacy Scholarship.  The Legacy Scholarship Fund is a effort by the American Legion to help provide a college education for any child who's mother or father has died while on active duty since Sep 11th, 2001.  One of the Riders fundraising efforts is the annual Legacy Run which is open to anyone to ride.  The ride is from various points around the US to the National Convention.   The Marion Riders raised over two thousand dollars for each of the last 3 years!  

For pictures of some of our events, click here.

What we are is members of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of the American Legion who also ride motorcycles.  We're not special and apart, just have something extra and use it to raise money for furthering the policies and publicizing the image of the American Legion.

Chapter 298 officers for 2012

Director/Advisor	Roger Norfolk
Assistant Director	Duane Pipho
Treasurer	Mike Etzel
Secretary/Historian	Carilyn Morse
Chaplain	Carilyn Morse
Road Captain	Carl Kerschenske

Where do I get the stuff?

We have found several things that help us along.  If you want to buy a leather vest, http://leatherup.com/  is a good site and gives a discount if you use the Online Discount Code of 55632

When you go to buy your patches for your vest, they are only allowed if from Emblem Sales.  Here is the link to patches http://emblem.legion.org/Patches/products/275/   The guidelines are pretty loose overall.  To hit the requirements, you need only a small American flag, that goes on the left front of the vest (Product Number 820.400 at a cost of $1.50 or so) and a big back patch.  You have a choice here.  You can do as most of the chapter has done, and get the big patch (Product Number 720.405x at a cost of $32.95), have "Iowa Chapter" printed on it,  and use a Large Rocker Patch that you get from the Chapter at a cost of $7 (can only be ordered in quantities of 6).... or you can use the big back patch  (Product Number 720.402X) that allows printing underneath.  You would need to get the printing "Iowa Chapter"  and underneath that "Marion Post 298".  We've not done that, but it is legit and could be easier in the long run.  The headgear of choice is the beret (Product Number 705.301) but most don't have that.  We're not too crazy over hats, but would want them for ceremonial purposes.  A ball cap with the Rider patch would be accepted, and not many of us have that.

To the right is a picture of my vest.  I also have the Small Legion Rider Patch (Product Number 720.400X) with "Iowa Chapter" on it, on the front of my vest.  Some would say it has to be under the flag - but don't get too hung up on placement.  It isn't required - and you can add patches to your heart's delight with just a couple bits of reason.  
1.  We honor the Flag, so it shouldn't be under another patch - should have parity in placement or better.
2.  We have some class so nothing profane of offensive.

Many of us also have joined the Patriot Guard, and got that patch from their website  http://www.patriotguard.org/ 

If you need patches sewn on, many of us have places we go.  Contact me or any other Rider to see where we went.

Click Here to read the current American Legion Riders Bylaws.