, 
last American Legion Riders group formed in the Minnesota American Legion’s second district, another group is forming and this time it’s at a local level.
Hardwick’s Mark Coney conducted the organizational meeting for the new Legion Riders chapter.
“I tried three years ago to get the third chapter started in the district,” said Coney, a member of the Arthur Moeller American Legion Post 478 and current commander of the state Legion’s second district.
“But the weather didn’t cooperate.”
Despite Saturday’s rain, motorcycle enthusiasts and members of the Blue Earth and New Ulm Legion Rider groups traveled to Hardwick to help organize the local riders group.
Their efforts added six people.
New auxiliary member Jill Thielbar of Luverne is one of the new members of the local riders group.
She said Saturday’s organizational meeting introduced her to the auxiliary’s purpose to support veterans like her husband, Brock.
“I didn’t know much about it (the auxiliary),” she said. “It (the motorcycle group) was a factor in deciding to join and be a part of a group where I can spend time with Brock.”
Membership in one of the three American Legion organizations is a prerequisite to joining the Legion Riders.
The three organizations include the Legion, which is for veterans, the Auxiliary is for the female relatives of a veteran, and sons join the Sons of the American Legion.
Legion Riders include members from all three groups in support of wounded servicemen and children of military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001. Their fundraising efforts can be completed at a local, state, national or international level.
“It’s just a different way to how the Legion can give to communities,” Coney said.
Legion Riders were developed in 1993 in Michigan by two Legionnaires who shared a love of motorcycles and charity.
“A common goal is to build the Legion family,” said Randy Olson, a Legion Rider from Winnebago and first vice commander of the second district.
The second district encompasses the 13 counties of southwest Minnesota. Olson traveled to Saturday’s organizational meeting in Hardwick to assist in organizing a new riders group.
He said since the formation of the Legion Riders in New Ulm and Blue Earth areas six and four years ago respectively, each local Legion has met their yearly membership goals.
“It’s bringing the Legion members together,” Olson said.
Riders membership is open to all second district Legion members who may not want to travel to New Ulm or Blue Earth for meetings and events.
Coney said the local meetings could rotate around the area, or its initial members could decide a central meeting location.
Contact Coney at 507-669-2006 to join or for more information.