During Day 1 of the 2024 American Legion Legacy Run, the 200-plus motorcycles and their passengers made a stop at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, Mo.

There, Vietnam War veteran and Department of Ohio American Legion Rider Mike Schrull got a chance to visit with the residents of the home, including one who had something very moving to say after Schrull’s greeting.

“That was only the third time in 50 years that someone said, ‘welcome home’ to me,” Vietnam War U.S. Army veteran Fred Gruhn told Schrull, the post adjutant and ALR director at Post 211 in Avon Park, Ohio.

It was a moving moment for Schrull. “That makes you want to cry. It does,” he said. “You think that in 50 years I’m the third person that welcomed him home, it’s just not right.”

Schrull said stops like the one at the home are as meaningful as anything on the Legacy Run. “It’s the whole reason you come on these rides,” he said. “I know we work for the Veterans & Children Foundation, but this is what it’s all about: to be able to get up close and personal. There are World War II guys here. There was a guy I met from Korea and Vietnam. We can’t even imagine the things they saw.”

Gruhn said being welcomed home, “rips my heart out, almost. It’s nice to know people still care.”

It was perhaps ironic that Gruhn was welcomed home on a day when the Legacy Run brought with it to the home The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, which it picked up along the way and then assembled on the grounds of the veterans home.

Legacy Run Chief Road Captain Mark Clark said it was the first time in the ride’s 18-year history that they’d escorted the wall to a location. “We didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be part of this escort,” he told the Riders. “Take lots of pictures. Let’s make sure we let everybody know how proud we were to be here, and how honored we were to be part of this escort.”

Jamie McCannon, the home’s administrator, said having the wall brought for the residents to enjoy, “is such a special memory and such a special opportunity for our veterans. We appreciate you guys doing that. We look forward to spending the next couple of days sharing with our community the Vietnam Wall.”

During the stop, Riders spent a good deal of time visiting with the home’s residents. Leticia Koetting, the home’s Volunteer Coordinator, said when Clark asked about bringing the ride to the facility, her response was a quick, “Yes, please. To be able to bring the national ride here – we’ve had the state ride here – but to bring it on a national level, it takes it to a whole new level. To get to meet people from all over the country.

“And I think it does mean a lot (to the residents). It shows that they’re not forgotten. They’re all in their final chapter of their lives, and seeing the outside world still cares, I think it does matter. I know they’ve been looking forward to this.”

Missouri Posts Provide Hospitality. Sunday’s ride included stops at two American Legion posts: Howard S. Keeling Post 138 in Bolivar, where the Riders were provided lunch, and American Legion Post 637 at Table Rock in Kimberling. Post 637 was the final stop of the day; waiting for the ride was a live band and smoked meats and sides.

At Post 138, Adjutant Jeff Griffith said the post had been planning for the start since April. Despite being a lot of work, it was worth it.

“We’re here for the veterans,” he said. “And we’ve got a big enough facility. It’s awesome to meet other veterans from different posts all over the United States. And I like the big group of motorcycles. I lived out by Sturgis, S.D., so I’m used to 100,000 bikes. To have a group of 300 or so, it’s great to have our post support that.”

Donations made at Post 138 brought the total raised so far to more than $313,000 for The American Legion Veteran’s and Children Foundation. Of Sunday’s totals, $15,000 came from the American Legion Department of New Mexico.

And at Post 637, Commander Heather Lawson welcomed the Riders, sharing some of the posts accomplishments. “We’re so proud to showcase our Legion,” she said. “And we’re so proud to have you here.”

Between Posts 138 and 637, the Riders also got a show of support from the Bolivar City Fire Department, which had two engines parked on an overpass over Route 13 with a large American flag hanging from an extended ladder.