Maryland American Legion Rider Michael Laws didn’t know Michael “Mick” Dunn. But that didn’t stop him from undertaking a very special mission on this year’s Legacy Run.

Laws, a ride road guard and member of Mason Dixon American Legion Post 194 in Rising Sun, Md., is carrying the vest of and wearing a locket containing some of the ashes of Dunn, who died from cancer earlier this year. Dunn was a member of American Legion Post and Chapter 639 in Springfield, Mo., and had been on several Legacy Runs before contracting cancer in the past few years.

And his connection with Laws was the result of random meeting at Post 194. “In approximately June, (Dunn’s) parents were in the Cecil County area where we live, and we were having an event,” Laws said. “(Dunn’s mother) stopped in and spoke to us at our American Legion Riders table. She probably spent an hour, so incredibly proud of her son, how well he was doing. She explained how he had been battling Stage 4 cancer, but he was free and clear. The doctors believed everything was good. He was so looking forward to doing this ride. Apparently, he’s been doing this ride since 2008, I believe.”

But Laws said that several days before he was going to head to Independence, Mo., for the start of the Legacy Run, Dunn’s mom called Post 194 and asked to speak with “the young gentleman that she had spoken to with the Legion Riders,” Laws said. “She couldn’t remember my name, but she knew I was going to be doing the Legacy Run.”

It was then Laws learned that Dunn had succumbed to his cancer. “She asked if I would honor their family by allowing him to participate in the American Legion Legacy Run. She provided me with a set of his ashes and asked that wherever I go for this ride, that I take him with me.”

Laws picked up the ashes and asked about Dunn’s vest. He was told that Dunn’s brother had the vest in Northern Pennsylvania and didn’t think she could get it to Laws before he needed to leave for the Legacy Run. So Laws took the next day of work off and rode to Pennsylvania to get the vest to also take with him on the ride.

Laws, now on his sixth Legacy Run, said being able to bring Dunn on the ride is “a tremendous honor. I didn’t know Mick Dunn. I never met him. But just the honor of being asked to provide honor to him and support the family, I really don’t have words for it. I can only hope that one day if I ever needed the support of another veteran, there’d be no questions asked. That that support would be provided.”

Sharing what he is doing on the ride with other Legacy Run participants has garnered nothing but support. “Truth be told, everybody I’ve told is … in true and total and complete support for my actions,” Laws said. “They recognize it is a tremendous honor to honor another veteran and that veteran’s family. Everybody has been thanking me. Honestly, I don’t feel that thanks is warranted. It’s just something that I believe any veteran should do for another veteran.”

After finishing the Legacy Run, Laws will head home from New Orleans and return the locket and vest to Dunn’s mother to have present at her son’s funeral on Aug. 30. “This really, truly adds an additional level of honor for this ride,” he said. “It gives the ride more meaning and purpose than just raising funds for a worthy cause.”

A Walk in the Park – and Much More. Wednesday’s lengthy stop in Vicksburg made it possible for ride participants to tour Vicksburg National Military Park, which commemorates one of the Civil War’s most pivotal campaigns over 1,800 acres while featuring more than 1,400 memorial monuments.

Mary Hinrichsen, the president of Auxiliary Unit 466 in Eureka, Ill., and a rider for Morton Grove Chapter 134, was one of the many Legacy Run participants who took advantage of the time allowed to visit the park. And it was a moving experience for her.

“It was a beautiful place,” Hinrichsen said. “But I’m sure it wasn’t when things were going on there. It made your heart just stop for both sides, everybody who was involved. And how many people who died. It was amazing. Humbling.”

Hinrichsen appreciated the chance to stop and tour the battlefield, as well as the other stops on the ride this year. “This has been absolutely wonderful,” she said. “We had a nice long stop yesterday. We had the nice long stop today. It was fabulous. I’ve been on five or six rides, and this makes us be able to enjoy the towns we’re going into.”

Working in Tandem. In Vicksburg, American Legion Posts 3 and 213 came together to welcome the ride with a tent, large fans, water and snacks. American Legion Post 213 Commander Donna Williams said that teaming with Post 3 has become protocol.

“We’re a small town, and we need each other,” she said. “You can’t operate by yourself. You need each other. You always need a helping hand. And we communicate all the time, especially with events like this. We come together as a team, because we are veterans and part of The American Legion.”

Past Post 3 Commander and Legion Rider Shawn Cosgrove also was on hand and echoed Williams. “When we set this up, Donna said, ‘Yes, we’ll do this together,’” he said. “This activity was a great activity for both of us to come out here and do.”

Williams said being able to provide support for the Legacy Run, “means the world to me. Just to be here and receive the Riders, and just let them know that here in Vicksburg, we support them, we care for them and they’re one of us. We want them to know that along their journey they can look for us – and any time they’re in Vicksburg.”

Making History. For the first time ever, the Legacy Run made its way onto a military installation, ending the day at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in Hattiesburg. Camp Shelby serves as a training site for National Guardsmen and reservists from throughout the country, hosting as many as 100,000 personnel annually.

Camp Shelby Commander Col. William Henry was on hand to greet the ride and thanked the Riders for their dedication to their cause.

“We’re honored that you chose to stop here today and to honor the best that our nation has, and that’s the America’s warrior,” he said. “Your presence here is a testament to camaraderie and the commitment that defines our veteran community. As you ride together, you are embodying the spirit of freedom and service, and we are proud that you made us, our town and our county a part of that.”

Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker, a Boys State alum, also praised the Riders. “We thank you for your demonstration of patriotism by going on this 1,100-mile ride,” he said. “This is personal for us, because we’re a veterans’ community. We have a park downtown where there are 173 names of men who didn’t come back. More than that, there are untold numbers who came back that are dealing with the struggles of life, amplified by scars seen and unseen.

“That’s why what you’re doing is so important for the Veterans & Children Foundation. You raise awareness. You raise money. You teach us that honor and taking care of our veterans doesn’t stop when they fold up the uniform for good.”

Rejoining the ride was National Commander Daniel Seehafer, who will continue into the New Orleans area on Thursday for the conclusion of the Legacy Run.

“I’m about purpose and relevance. And I believe you are too,” Seehafer told the Riders. “That’s why you’re here. You gave your time, you gave your talent, even your treasure to do this. Does it mean a lot? Does it make a difference? It does. So from my heart to yours, once again, I don’t just say this. I mean it. I love you. What you’re doing is making a difference.”

And joining the ride for the first time was Sons of The American Legion National Commander Donald “J.R.” Hall Jr., who told the Legacy Run participants, “I appreciate every one of you who stood up to be the one to ride that bike and change lives and save lives. “

Before the ride arrived at Camp Shelby, it was greeted by the Hattiesburg Fire Department hanging a large U.S. flag from its ladder for the motorcycles to ride underneath. Across the street was a contingent of Mississippi Legion Family members.

One of them, Hattiesburg Post 24 Adjutant Robert Hall, said the group didn’t want to miss a chance to see the large contingent of motorcycles.

“This is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to witness the Legacy Run,” Hall said. “We tried to come out in force … and show our support. Our post tries to help financially toward this cause. We just try to support the veterans overall, as well as try to support the Legacy Run.”