Local chapter of American Legion Riders formed through Post 29

ELKINS -- A local chapter of the American Legion Riders fundraising motorcyclorganization has been established through the H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion headquarters in Elkins, as 10 committee members were voted in on Monday.

The American Legion Riders are well-known across the county for their charitable work. There are currently more than 110,000 members in the more than 2,000 chapters in the United States and three foreign countries.

"We are not a gang, we are not a club, we are a group," Tammy McDonald, who will serve as the chapter's secretary, told The Inter-Mountain. "We don't want the stereotype of being a new biker gang in Elkins. We are here to help people and the entire community."

Those selected to the 10-member committee include Mike Valdez, Bobby Poyner, Tim Shreve Jr., Liz Blackburn, Tim Shreve Sr., McDonald, Sammy Miller, John Miller, Steve Wilt and Christine Mallow. Valdez has been chosen as president of the group.

The group has also been approved by the West Virginia State American Legion to join the organization. The only remaining step is for the 10 committee members to be sworn in, which will take place on April 12 at the H.W. Daniels headquarters.

"Now that we have been approved, we will start working on getting packets together that consist of at least 50 pages," McDonald said. "Those packets will contain all the rules and regulations that anyone wanting to join must follow."

McDonald noted there have been previous attempts to get the organization off the ground locally, but for one reason or another, each attempt eventually failed.

"They've tried before to get this group going in Elkins," she said. "There was always something that kept it from taking off, though. So we are making history in Elkins by getting the group started. Our fundraising goals are going to be helping veterans, children, the elderly and fire victims."

McDonald said new members looking to join the organization don't have to have a motorcycle; they only need to have a street legal vehicle that is not a car or truck.

"You do have to be an American Legion member," McDonald said. "That can consist of any parent, grandparent or husband and wife, who served in the military."

Legion Riders across the country raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for children's hospitals, schools, veterans homes, severely wounded servicemembers and scholarships.

For more information about the group, call the H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion at 304-636-3930.