AMERICAN
LEGION
RIDERS

How to qualify

Who can join The American Legion Riders?

Members must hold membership in and be in good standing with The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion. Members must be legally registered motorcycle owners or be the legally registered owner's spouse within the state of registration. All operators must be properly licensed and insured per state laws. All members must obey motor-vehicle laws in the state in which they are operating a motorcycle or riding as a passenger.

Currently, over 110,000 American Legion Riders meet in over 2,000 chapters in every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries. Riders in Iowa have formed an honor guard called The Five Star Freedom Riders, and Riders in Mulvane, Kan., founded the Patriot Guard to protect the sanctity of military funerals from protesters. Riders in all states have escorted military units returning home from combat tours overseas, conducted massive cross-country fundraising events for wounded warriors from all services, and have raised millions of dollars for countless local, state and national charities. Many Riders, supported by their departments, conduct annual statewide Legacy Runs in direct support of American Legion scholarship programs of Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW), supporting our wounded servicemembers across the nation.

Find your local chapter here

What do The American Legion Riders do?

True to the Legion's grassroots tradition, each chapter manages its programs at the post level, where the best ideas are born. The Riders are part of many projects and events, including:

-Rolling Thunder, the annual POW/MIA rally in Washington on Memorial Day weekend.

-Annual regional rides such as Operation Wounded Warrior, sponsored by Riders in Nevada, Texas, -New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California and other Western states.

-Local charity events in support of The American Legion and local communities.

-Raising money for VA hospitals, women and children centers, children and youth centers, schools and other facilities.

-Sponsoring or participating in motorcycle runs to benefit numerous charities.
-Local memorial ceremonies and community parades.

-The American Legion Legacy Run, an annual cross-country fundraising ride.

-Riding to honor fallen military men and women, and to protect the sanctity of their funerals from those who would dishonor their memory.

-Escorting military units to departure airfields and airports for combat tours overseas, and welcoming them home upon their return.

When Can I Start?
If your local Legion post has a Rider's Chapter, contact them directly. If you have questions or your post does not have a chapter, view the directory here for a local contact, or email the State Chapter.

Apply for a
scholarship

The American Legion’s Legacy Scholarship provides college funding to children of post-9/11 veterans who died on active duty, or those who have a combined VA disability rating of 50 percent or greater. Apply January 1 to April 1.

American Legion Legacy Scholarship Application

Since the scholarship's inception, The American Legion, Department of Indiana youth have received $172,926 awarded to thirteen recipients.

American Legion Riders chapters are well known for their charitable work, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children's hospitals, schools, veterans homes, severely wounded servicemembers and scholarships. Since 2006, Riders nationwide have participated in The American Legion Legacy Run to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, established to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001.

Scholarships awarded based on need
See below for qualification factors.

Indiana Riders College

Indiana American Legion Riders College is the highest level of training offered by the Indiana Riders and teaches principles and techniques necessary for effective leadership within The American Legion Riders. This program is open to all Indiana American Legion Riders.

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Single Spur Ceremony Training

The single Spur Ceremony is an honor guard type of ceremony for any avid motorcycle rider. This type of tribute to the fallen, dates to medieval times. When knights returning from battle would wear only a single spur symbolizing the loss of a brother.

The training will take place Sunday, January 26, 2025 at Rushville Post 150 from noon to 4 p.m.