From the desk of the Riders Group Director Troy "Double T" Thomas
2024 was our first full year as a new Chapter, and it was my honor to serve as the Post 12 Riders Group Director. We started off with a total of 6 riders and grew our membership to 16 riders, and we hope to double those numbers in 2025. The Post 12 Riders Group is not a "motorcycle club", but a riders group, but like all clubs or riders group we love to get together for a ride to new destinations, for charity causes, or just to enjoy the comradery of riding with our brother and sister riders. But like the rest of the Post 12 Family, our mission to serve the veterans in the Wiregrass community, their families, and the community as a whole. One of the most exciting program we as a group have implemented recently is our "Flagpoles for Veterans" program. This program includes selecting a local veteran to recognize by holding a flag ceremony after we install a flagpole at the veterans home, at no cost whatsoever to the veteran. Nothing is as satisfying as watch the surprised veteran as we pull up on our bikes and get to work installing their flagpole. We welcome anyone to nominate a veteran to receive a flagpole, and we will do the rest.
I would like to personally thank each and every rider for doing their part to grow this group, and for all your dedication to our mission. Thank you for allowing me to be your Director.
D Troy Thomas
Post 12 Riders Group Officers
Name | Office | Email address | Contact phone |
Troy "Double T" Thomas | Director | (334) 400-0207 | |
John "Uncle Mike" Leonard | Assistant Director | (334) 701-9370 | |
Virginia Thomas | Secretary / Treasurer | (334) 333-8793 | |
Jim "Manchu" Timms | Sergeant at Arms | (334) 400-4888 | |
Lehman "Ug" Irby | Road Captain | (334) 400-5356 | |
James "Hillbilly" Worley | Road Captain | (334) 343-8430 |
To review the American Legion Post 12 Rider Group bylaws, or the America Legion Alabama Department Riders bylaws, please click on the appropriate link below.
ALR History
​In Garden City, Mich., in 1993, Chuck "Tramp" Dare and Bill "Polka" Kaledas, commander of American Legion Post 396, shared an idea to start a motorcycle enthusiasts association within the organization. The two longtime riders wanted an environment where Legion family members could come together to share a common love for motorcycles. Dare and Kaledas wrote a letter to Michigan Department Adjutant Hubert Hess, sharing their idea. Hess replied that he liked the concept and wanted to pursue it. Later, he gave Kaledas and Dare instructions for managing the program at the post level. He also explained how they could be approved to use the American Legion emblem, and how to gain Membership's support and recognition. At a regular meeting, Post 396 members passed a resolution for a new program to be known as the "American Legion Riders." Joined by 19 other founding members from their post, Dare and Kaledas were flooded with requests for information about their organization. They agreed to establish a central source for the Riders to ensure that chapters formed not as motorcycle clubs or gangs, but as Legionnaires and Auxiliary and SAL members joining to ride as Legion family.
ALR Today
- 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 service members across the nation.
- 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:
- 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 from National Headquarters in Indianapolis to the national convention city.
- 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.
Eugene Bullard (Korean & Vietnam Veteran) - Flag Ceremony
CW2 Donald Rawlinson (Vietnam Veteran) - Flag Ceremony
RM2 Hobie Dixon (Operation Desert Storm & Operation Desert Shield) - Flag Ceremony
Scan QR Code, or click the following link for a membership application: ALR Post 12 Membership Application
Chester R. Vickery - Post 12
American Legion
P.O. Box 71
Dothan, Al. 36302