Fayetteville, NC - The roar of 300 motorcycles echoed through Fayetteville on Sunday as the 19th Annual American Legion Legacy Run arrived, a journey on two wheels with a clear purpose: to support military families. This annual event carries a century of military service into a new era of care and support.

The American Legion Legacy Run is a testament to the organization’s founding principle, which, according to Mark Clark, the National Chairman for American Legion Riders, has been to care for those wounded in battle and for their families. "For 106 years, the American Legion has stood as a centerpiece of American Society," Clark said, emphasizing that the mission has remained "strong and unchanged."

Since its inception in 2006, the Legacy Run has successfully raised over $16 million to provide scholarships for the children of fallen or disabled service members. The fund's success has allowed the American Legion to expand its mission to include supporting the Veterans & Children Foundation.

According to James LaCoursiere, the National Commander of The American Legion, the most important part of the event is the "camaraderie and making a difference in the lives of our troops, our veterans, and their families."

The American Legion Veterans and Children's Foundation provides hope to veterans and their families by helping to pay for the training of veteran service officers. These officers assist veterans in obtaining the benefits they deserve, including help with disability claims, upgrading discharges, and accessing educational resources.

As the riders departed from the Crown Coliseum, they left a lasting impact on Fayetteville. Their journey continues, but the mission they carry will have a lasting impact long after the sound of their engines fades.