Vet group cycles in from Indiana

SOUTH SALT LAKE — A group of mostly Vietnam veterans riding motorcycles rumbled into the American Legion Post 112 on Tuesday afternoon, ending a five-day, 1,900-mile ride from Indianapolis in an effort to raise money for the American Legacy Scholarship Fund.

The end of the American Legacy Run here also marked the arrival of veterans prior to the start of the 88th National Convention of the American Legion, which gets into full swing next week at the Salt Palace.

Convention organizers estimate between 12,000 and 15,000 veterans and their family members will be in Salt Lake City for several events, including a three-day general session Aug. 29-31 to set the Legion's legislative agenda for the coming year.

Next Tuesday, delegates are expecting appearances by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the convention.

President Bush is scheduled to speak to veterans on Wednesday or Thursday and has plans to spend his first night in Utah since he was elected. Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is planning to speak at an anti-war protest during Bush's visit.

One of the issues legionnaires were already talking about this week is getting the government to commit to "mandatory" funding, or a more reliable source of federal funds that veterans and their families can access for a variety of needs.

"We need to know that the money is there for veterans year after year," said American Legion National Commander Tom Bock, who organized the ride from his office in Indianapolis.

Terry Woodburn, state adjutant for the Illinois American Legion, said families of fallen soldiers need more financial help.

"They just don't get that much insurance from the government," said Woodburn, who rode his motorcycle from Indiana.

It's estimated that riders in the Legacy Run raised over $100,000 to add to the $1.2 million already in the scholarship fund. That money is available to any college-bound child of a fallen member of the military.

"I don't care if it was an accident or an act of war, we're going to take care of them," said Bock.

During the convention, Bock said he hopes people planning to take part in a war protest will exercise their right to free speech in a manner that is responsible and to not treat troops as they were treated in the 1960s and '70s. Bock recalled how Vietnam-era soldiers were spit on, shamed and called "baby killers."

"The American Legion is not going to allow that to happen again," Bock said. He urged protesters, including Anderson and his invited guest Cindy Sheehan, mother of a fallen soldier, to avoid undermining the morale and safety of troops.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com