American Legion Riders Chapter 8

10/04/2026

A big thank you to all of the volunteers that made the Rider's Wreaths Across America a huge success. Over $12,000 will be sent to WAA this year. We have over 40 Site Specific locations at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell that we will place wreaths at on December 12th. We hope as many of you that can will join us on that day. Thanks again to the volunteers as well as everyone that purchased a wreath, played the poker run, bought basket raffle tickets and well as 50/50. It was. a great day to be at the Post.

09/13/2026

09/10/2026

Hello, Riders. There are cards in the TDY Social Quarters for you to fill one out on what you were doing and what you were feeling on September 11th, 25 years ago. Please take the time to fill one out. We will read them starting at noon on Friday. The City of Winter Haven is having a Patriot’s Day remembrance at Central Park on Friday afternoon starting at 5:30. I am being told there will be bike parking for us. If you can attend this event, remember to wear something to represent our Post and Chapter.

Saturday you have a choice of two rides to support. One is with Chapter 72 in Mulberry with registration starting at 10:00 and other ride will be with AMVETS Post 44 with registration starting at 8:45 in Gibsonton. I will lead the ride to Post 72 on Saturday morning, meeting at Post 8 at 8:45 with KSU at 9:00. There is not a planned ride from the Post for the ride to Gibsonton, but if someone one wants to lead a group over, please let me know. This ride will end at Post 44 on SR 60 so even if you can’t participate in the ride, you can still ride over to the Post after completing the poker run with Chapter 72. Both of these organizations have supported our Post in the past so please make an effort to support them.

Our next ALR meeting is this Sunday at 1:00. Please bring basket items so we can get them put together for our Wreaths Across America fundraiser on October 3rd. Make sure you get with Cathy to let her know what area you can volunteer for.

On behalf of Chapter Director, Mark, ride safe and ride often.

09/06/2026

It looks like our next Key West trip will be March 25-28 2027. Make your reservations at https://hmsnvreservations.dodlodging.net/WBE/checkAvailability.do?bc=&tenant=NAVYPROD%3Ftenant%3DNAVYPROD&propertyCode=MFLVAC or call them at 1-877 Navy Bed. You must be able access the Navy Base in order to reserve your vacation rental ($175 for condo, $150 for mobile home) or room with someone that can. If you have a retired military ID, disability military ID, or VA Card that shows disability connected, you have access to the base.

09/03/2026

Hello, Riders. On behalf of Riders Director Mark, here are a few rides coming up in the near future.

This Saturday (Sept 5th) we will meet at Post 8 at 9:45 with kickstands up at 10:00 to ride to Slice of the Hillz, a pizza buffet in Zephyrhills, located at 5317 Gall Boulevard. The buffet costs $9.99, and you can add a drink for $1.99. The all-you-can-eat line includes pizza, pasta, soup, salads, bread, and desserts. We will head back afterwards so we can try to avoid any afternoon showers.

On Friday Sept 11th at noon at the Post, cards that our members filled out about where they were and what they were doing when the planes hit the World Trade Centers will be read. You still have time to fill out a card if you wish, they are located by the front stage in the TDY Social Quarters. That afternoon, we have been invited to attend Winter Haven’s ceremony to remember the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacked. There will be designated parking for motorcycles (that location will be sent out as soon as we receive it). The ceremony starts around 5:00.

On Saturday Sept 12th, there are two rides that we have been invited to. One is for Chapter 72’s Project Vet Relief Poker Run and the other is AMVETS 44’s annual Patriot Day ride. You can decide which one you would like to support. Both of these groups have supported our Post in the past. Meeting and KSU times will be sent out at a later date.

Our next meeting is Sunday Sept 13th. You are asked to bring in items to fill the basket for October as well as items for our Chinese Auction for our Project Vet Relief fundraiser on October 3rd.

If you are going on the POW/MIA Seven Bridges ride in Jacksonville the weekend of the 18th-20th, please let me know.

Thanks, ride safe and ride often

George

Road Captain

08/28/2026

Hello, Riders. On behalf of Director Mark, here is the info for our ride-by (and stop) for Robert Taylor, our WWII Veteran. Robert is turning 102 this weekend. Please be at the Post around noon with KSU at 12:30. It is about a 20-25 minute ride. We will leave Post 8 taking a left on AVE M, right on 6th, and then left on Havendale. We will turn right on Berkley Road in Auburndale and then right on Gapway, left on Old Berkley Road. We will meet up wth First Responders and/or LEOs and follow them into the park. We have been offered to stay and enjoy some cake and light refreshments, but the clubhouse is pretty small and limited seating. We will see how it goes as far as how long we will stay. I am open to a lunch destination after the ride-by. Let me know if there is a place that sounds good for the group. An orange shirt of any style will be fine. Hope to see you on Saturday.

08/24/2026

Our Wreaths Across America fundraiser will be on October 3rd. We need baskets, bottles, and volunteers. Plan on being at the Post around 10:00 on that Saturday to help get things set up.

08/21/2026

Hello, Riders. Make sure you mark your calendar for 29 August as we do a Birthday Ride-By for Robert Taylor's 103 birthday. Robert is a WWII Veteran and survivor of the battle of Midway. You can see some of his interviews here:
https://www.fox13news.com/news/world-war-ii-veteran-remaining-survivor-u-s-s-yorktown-to-celebrate-101st-birthday-polk-county

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiBbfrHj1_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6MxH-YP4tA

Rishi Sharma has spent more than 7 years traveling the globe to int...

08/14/2026

Don't forget, we will be escorting the Department Commander again on Saturday. Be at the Post before 9:00 in the morning, we will have KSU at 9:15. If you cannot go on the ride, you can still meet us at the Post around 3:30 to meet the Department Commander. Post 8 will be our last stop of the 7th District. All Post 8 Family members are welcome.