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The Poppy Patch
A memorial Patch. Jeff is the son of one of our AUX members. She is our only Gold Star mother.Toto, I See Twisties!
The Poppy Poker Ride was a joint project of the women of the American Legion Auxiliary and the bikers of the American Legion Riders, both of the Dwight Cowles American Legion Post 370 in Overland Park, KS. I was the cooordinator as I was a member of both groups. It started as a suggestion that the Riders group help the Auxiliary with their annual poppy distribution. Bill Christensen suggested to me that the riders help the aux and i am sure he was wanting us to stand out front of some stores and help with the distribution that way. I knew better than that. You know what poppies I am talking about right? The little red paper flowers that veterans make, offering you a flower for a free will donation. The money from donations made during the annual distribution is used to aid hospitalized and disabled veterans in the local area. The red poppy was adopted as the memorial flower for veterans because of its characteristic in WWI to flourish in fields that had been heavily shelled during battle.
We held several meetings, at times the riders would be holding a meeting in the clubroom
Ride Board
I decorated up this board to greet the bikers, showing the route and pictures of each stop. to discuss how they would accomplish their ride tasks while the aux was meeting at the same time in another room discussing how they were going to accomplish their tasks. It was divided pretty evenly and both groups really stepped up and accomplished it. The AUX was in charge of the food, they asked members to bring in dishes. Members brought in all the breaskfast poppy seed muffins, breads and other items they also were dropping off chili or other warm dishes for the evening meal. The AUX took care of registration and start up money, they made plastic poppy flowers that went on the route markers. They greeted all the riders as they came into the post, handing them the appropriate paperwork and giving them a poppy.
Lizard, and ALR member, had some really good ideas for the poker run. The best 2 were asking the riders to dedicate their ride to a deceased veteran followed with making a custom patch with that name on it. I worked that night and came up with the patch design. Finding an embroiderier that could make the patches with the names was a problem. We finally had the patches made and
Dedicate Your Ride
This the bulletin board that an AUX member made. Each slip of paper has a name and little bio about a KIA from the last few years. then found a local embroiderier that would put the names on them, but she could not make the patches as she did not have a machine that could make the edge. No one culd make the patches the same day as the ride. But she could make up the ones from the pre-registered riders and make sure they were done the day of the ride. So we made it thing to push pre-registation. Only pre-registered riders would get the patch the day of the ride. It worked we had I believe 53 pre-registered riders. We actually had people registering so they could get the patch but they couldn't make the ride. It was mailed to those that registered the day of the ride. The patch featured not only the name of the veteran but a simple representation of the poppy flower. This sets it apart from other name patches and signifies that it is a memorial patch. For most bikers the person they chose to dedicate their ride to was a very personal matter, either childhood friends, uncles, brothers, fathers or sons. Like Chuck Loch “8-Ball” and Dave Shafer “OBD” who each dedicated their ride to their fathers or Carol
Our AUX greeters
Okay so they are doing much right then, but we weren't busy. Glidden who dedicated the day to her high school friend who was killed in Vietnam. Keith Gray “Sparks” rode for the son of a gold star mother from the post. Several riders who couldn’t decide on just one name chose to purchase additional patches. Some of the bikers didn’t personally know a veteran to ride for so chose a slip of paper from a bulletin board. The slips of paper gave information on some of our young men that had died in service to our country during the last few years.
I was in charge of finding the route, but I don't ride the local roads much, so I recruited Gary Palmer (Leatherneck) to help me. He of course found me the only twistes in KS. They were remote so it took 60 miles to get to them. But remote was also good as the speed limit could be pushed out there. Not to be confused with a bar hop the route was 170 miles long. The day of the ride no one seemed to mind the length it was the cold and rain that might have damped some of their spirits though. Bull committed to do the route
markers, making him my personal hero. He not only made the markers, but put them out on the route and picked them up after the ride. The route was 170 miles long, so this was no small task.
The ladies of the auxiliary provided a wide assortment of poppy seed pastries for the bikers to enjoy as they filled out registration forms or just relaxed before departing. The bikers had the options of riding the route on their own or following the route’s ride marshals. A pair of marshals left every half hour. Most of the 80 bikers chose to follow the marshals, leaving in small groups. As the groups were forming up to leave, it was fun to see auxiliary members go out to get pictures with the bikers, the purpose to provide proof to their doubting friends that they know and hangout with bikers. Before each group departed the post chaplain Betty Lackey, a WWII veteran, gave a blessing for the bikes and the journey they were starting.
Starting and ending at Post 370 the route was to 4 different American Legion Posts in KS. The stops were at Louisburg (Post #250), Garnett (Post #48), Paola
Riders Registering
This is early in the morning as bikers are registering. (Post #156) and Springhill (Post #350). The Posts hosting the stops provided a rest stop for the bikers enjoying snacks and beverages as cards were drawn for the poker hand. Educational information was also posted about the poppy and its history at each stop. The riding highlight of the route was Linn County Road #1095 heading south out of La Cygne. A gem of a road, that is for Kansas, it provides a nice break from the usual long, straight flat roads we find here. Getting to it meant the route was longer than most charity rides. Very few of the bikers had previously ridden that road and enjoyed the experience keeping route maps for a return trip on a warmer, dryer day.
Included in the $15 registration fee was another all you care to eat meal at the conclusion of the ride. The hot meal was a welcome site as the mid 50F, drizzly weather was a bit nippy to ride in. Several of the non-biker Legion members from the post joined the group for dinner and participated in the silent auction. The event was concluded with a table full of door prizes being given out and the
AUX Staff
This is a picture of the AUX staff we could get together. Roberta had already headed back in or she should have been there too. silent auction results announced. $600 was raised from just the silent auction. The $100 prize for top hand was won with a queen high royal flush from “Fishin Fred” Moret.
Although some rain had hit throughout the day on parts of the route, the thunderstorm held off until the food was gone, the awards handed out, auction items safely packed away on the bikes and the participants either home or close to home, then it poured all evening long. The event was a success bringing in more than $2000 after expenses. For information about the riders or any of their upcoming events check out their website: www.ALRpost370.org
Poppy Poker Ride Stop Information
Begins and Ends at:
Dwight Cowles American Legion Post #370
7500 W 75th Street
Overland Park, KS 66212
N38 59.586 W94 40.344
STOP #1 Host is American Legion Riders Post #250
405 So 9th Street
Louisburg, KS
From Metcalf make a right on 9th street 4 blks west Post is on the south side of the road.
N38 36.821 W94 40.834
STOP #2 Host is American Legion Riders Post #48
Garnett American Legion/VFW#6397 Building
1551 So Elm Street
Garnett, KS 66032
Spring Hill Stop
We had 4 other stops, but I only made it to one, this one. Spring Hill is great, they have no building so they got a room in the community building to use. Located in the cities south lake park, it’s the white building with the big tank out front. It is only labeled as a VFW.
N38 16.214 W95 14.805
STOP #3 Host is American Legion Riders Post #156
American Legion Post Miami
39 Delaware St.
Paola, KS
Gravel on the North entrance to the post is really chunky. Try entering at the Wallace Park entrance and coming in behind the post, its still gravel, but in better condition. Enter through the back doors of the post.
N38 33.818 W94 52.908
STOP #4 Host is American Legion Auxillary Post #350
Spring Hill Civic Center (Classroom #11) Corner of Madison and Lawrence
196 W Lawrence Street
Spring Hill, KS
N38 44.744 W94 49.614
Park in the back by the police dept on the north side of their parking lot in the grassy area.
My Ride Captains were Xman, 8-Ball, Fishin' Fred, Stormvet, Medic, Tator -- I know there are more, its just been to long since the ride. I was very grateful to all of them.
Bull committed to do the route markers, making him my personal hero. He not only made the markers, but put them
The Silent Auction
This was the best money raiser. All the items were donated, so it was pure profit. Over $500. out on the route and picked them up after the ride. The route was 170 miles long, so this was no small task.
Techie
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BJ
non-member comment
What a fun dedicated group of people you all are. I enjoyed the story and reading about how much behind the scenes work goes on to make a run and function like this successful. Thank God for individuals who have time to sponsor The annual Poppy Drives. I realize how much funds are needed by the organization for all that they do and provide to veterans. Years ago, my late husband spent time in several VA hospitals, one being Walter Reed and another in New Orleans. I remember all the things they provided for him and so many other patients. So to realize just how many people it takes all over the country to provide such things is massive dedication. I applaud all that your group does. Thanks so much for the updates here. (A loyal follower of good people).