American Legion Riders Post 03 Joins the Veterans Assembly Hall Podcast The American Legion Riders Post 03 from Nashua, New Hampshire, joins us on the Veterans Assembly Hall podcast. Representing the Riders are Chief and Jeremy. Jeremy introduces himself as a relatively new Legion Rider, currently serving in the Massachusetts National Guard, where he has dedicated the last 28 years of his life. Chief, a familiar face on the podcast, shares insights from his previous appearances. We begin by asking Chief about the significant community donations the Riders have made recently. He explains that these funds were raised during their Annual "Cabin Fever" Party held in January of this year. He likens the event to "drinking from a fire hose," emphasizing the challenge of keeping everything organized. Once the event concludes, the group gathers to decide how to allocate the funds to benefit the community. Our conversation turns to the importance of connecting with and supporting local organizations. This year, the Riders chose to support two organizations: the Worker Bee Fund and the Nashua Center. Chief discusses the reasons behind their selection. Jeremy elaborates on this topic, expressing how vital it is for the Riders to remain connected to the community. "I've known American Legion and VFWs; they're always involved in some way, but I didn't fully understand how it all works," he shares. "Now, by observing, I'm learning a lot. It's super important." He notes that the Legion Riders serve as an extension of the post. "The post isn't going anywhere, but those of us in vests are the eyes and ears in the community. We are the recruiters and the brand, keeping the message of community support and veterans alive." Chief emphasizes the need to attend each other's events, stating that even brief conversations can have a lasting impact throughout the year. When asked about the significance of building personal connections, he replies, "It's very powerful. I've always believed that it's not what you know, but who you know." He consistently makes an extra effort to attend events for this reason. Jeremy highlights the upcoming Tough Ruck on April 19th. As a committee member, he discusses the enthusiastic response from participants and how the Legion and Riders can support veterans and first responders along the route. We take a deep dive into the route, the rucks, and the event's evolution. Chief reminds us that the Nashua Legion Riders and those from Manchester By the Sea will be present at the Motorcycle Expo in Wilmington, MA, on March 7th and 8th. In closing, Jeremy shares how he manages the Riders' social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of these tools for communicating with the broader community.
