ALR Post 259 Blogs

Something happened to me today that I feel compelled to share.

It’s easy to think that the things we do as Riders are small moments in a long line of events. A ride here. A Donation. A flag line there. A wave, a smile, an engine revved in honor. We show up, we do what we do best, and then we move on.

In a powerful display of patriotism and unity, the American Legion Riders of Post 259 proudly escorted a group of local veterans to Albany International Airport as part of the esteemed Honor Flight program. With engines rumbling and American flags waving in the wind, the motorcycle escort formed a moving tribute worthy of the heroes on board.

To make the moment even more special, Post 259 invited the Red Knights Motorcycle Club to ride alongside them, strengthening the convoy and amplifying the message of brotherhood and respect.

There are motorcycle rides—and then there are rides that etch themselves into memory. When the American Legion Riders Post 259 joined forces with Red Knights Chapter 44 for a trip out to the legendary Hawk’s Nest, it wasn’t just another cruise. It was pure motorcycling bliss.

The Road to a Legendary Spot

Nestled just outside Port Jervis, New York, the Hawk’s Nest is one of the Northeast’s most iconic stretches of pavement. Perched high above the Delaware River, this winding roadway is famous for its dramatic cliffside views and cinematic twists. You've probably seen it in car commercials—but nothing compares to experiencing it in person on two wheels.

November 11th is Veterans Day, our federal holiday dedicated to honoring the service members of our military and showing our appreciation for their sacrifices. Originally called Armistice Day, this date marks the official end of the major hostilities of World War I. While we have previously expressed our deep respect and gratitude for our veterans, we find it fitting to delve into the history of the day set aside to celebrate them.

Are you a motorcycle enthusiast looking to connect with a community that shares your passion for riding and dedication to supporting veterans? The American Legion Riders (ALR) Post 259 in Oneonta, NY, is calling all riders to join our ranks and be part of something truly special. Whether you're a seasoned rider or just starting your journey on two or three wheels, we welcome you to become part of our vibrant and supportive community.

Who Are We?

The American Legion Riders Post 259 is a proud chapter of the national American Legion Riders, an organization that combines the love of motorcycles with a commitment to supporting veterans, their families, and our communities. Our members come from all walks of life, united by a shared love for riding and a deep respect for those who have served our country.

Motorcyclists from the American Legion Riders of Post 259 recently awarded three scholarships to students from Oneonta, Worcester, and Morris as part of their Legacy Scholarship program. 

American Legion Riders Post 259 members Sharon Parshall and Vic Bronner created the program “Rider Memory Bear” that donates to the family of a veteran a handmade stuffed bear, typically made of a shirt from the veteran and a traditional black American Legion Rider vest.

Nowadays especially, there are a lot of people, organizations, and businesses who could use a helping hand, which makes the work of local volunteers particularly important. 

Regardless of your age, there are plenty of opportunities around to volunteer time, energy, and talents to, with personal benefits to be had because of each. Let’s go over a few reasons you should consider volunteering to be a great way to spend your time.

COVID-19 has changed the way we all need to proceed in public. When planning for your motorcycle run it’s important to have a game plan in place to ensure you are keeping the health of all of those that will be participating in mind.

Below you'll find a list of suggestions we put together for you to consider to help keep your participants and volunteers safe and healthy.

Boy, these were hard to choose. There are really so many good songs, not all the songs on this list are my speed but they are cute or iconic. Something for everyone! 

WALR 25.9 is the American Legion Riders Post 259 fictitious radio station and no authority on the subject. So.. before we get started there are a couple of honorable mentions that didn't make the list. You may be upset they didn't make the list, so am I, but some of them I forgot about until the list was almost done. :) They are at the bottom, check them out.

DryRuns and DryRuns.org is not a part of the American Legion Riders. DryRuns.org is a separate initiative built to help all motorcycle organizations, promote responsible riding to save lives worldwide.

My name is Chris Chase, I am the Assistant Director of the American Legion Riders Post 259 in Oneonta, NY as well as the Assistant Director for New York State, District 5 & 6. I'm here to talk about "Dry Runs"!! Whew, what a controversy lately. I'm using this blog post to get my full thoughts down on this topic and to explain exactly what a "Dry Run" is at the time of this post. The reason I say "at the time of this post" is to note that this is something that will change and evolve. I am hoping to promote "Dry Runs" throughout the American Legion Rider Community Nationwide. We will be working with New York State Director Bob Wallace for the American Legion Riders and Julie Dostal who is a leading alcoholism and addictions expert in our area from LEAF (Leaf Council On Alcoholism | www.leaf.org) on developing the educational campaign and content for the public and Rider Chapters to use as they see fit. We've also developed an easy to recognize logo for the program. 

Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes, the Star Spangled Banner… whatever you call it, the flag of the United States of America is a symbol of this country’s history and its current unity. As such, there are proper ways to handle it… and many, many ways for it to be mishandled. Here, we’ve taken the liberty of outlining the proper etiquette for handling the flag, and how to properly dispose of it if necessary.

Memorial Day is the day we set aside to honor the servicemen and servicewomen who have fallen in the line of duty. While this day of remembrance has many traditions and symbols that we can easily recognize - poppies, picnics, and parades - the first was decorating soldiers' graves with flowers.

"It is fitting and proper that we devote one day each year to paying special tribute to those whose constancy and courage constitute one of the bulwarks guarding the freedom of this nation and the peace of the free world." - President Dwight D. Eisenhower

As American Legion Riders, we gladly welcome any opportunity we get to honor our veterans and current service members. That’s why we feel it is important that as many people as possible know that today is Armed Forces Day, and what that means.

We know we don’t have to tell you how exhilarating it can be to ride… we also shouldn’t have to tell you how dangerous it has the potential to be. Studies have shown that this danger is largely due to other vehicles on the road. We want to make sure that anyone new or returning to riding know how to be best prepared to be as visible as possible to other vehicles on the road.

With the influx of new members, I decided to put together this blog as a starting point for them to get patched up. Personally, I think the vest and patch thing is pretty fun. Picking out your favorite patches and giving it a sense of "you" is kinda cool. There are few basics you need to know in regards to your Legion Rider Vest. Below ar...

Traditionally, spring is the time we all commit to cleaning up our homes, garages and work spaces from the long winter months. Spring also means the roads are clearing up, so it's time to ride! After a long winter nap, your bike can use some springtime attention, too. Below are some spring cleaning tips to help you get your ride ready to hit the op...

This blog is going to cover everything I've learned about riding a motorcycle with your dog. I really like writing blogs that saves my readers money or time, since I've done a ton of research on this and purchased and tried lots of products, maybe I will save you some time. If you feel I have, leave a comment below and share this post! First of all...

​Thank you for checking out our website and coming to what will be our blog section. We will be posting content here regularly about topics about the club, the American Legion and motorcycles. Be sure you have joined our mailing list to get notifications!