Legion Riders USO Run

Story and photos by: Ricky Jimenez Carrasco
In April, Post 598 Legion Riders held their 3rd annual run to benefit the USO. The United Service Organization was organized in 1941 to help soldier morale during the impeding World War II. The USO now has over 160 locations around the world and serves over 5 million visitors every year.

On their run, the Legion Riders had about 250 registered participants and raised $4800 specifically for the El Paso USO. Legion Rider Daniel Chavez, Army Ret., a 25 year veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne, spoke on the post’s behalf: “We had a successful run and participation for all the El Paso posts. We even had Legion Riders come down from Arizona just for this run.”

When asked what the USO meant to him, he was very appreciative of their efforts for soldiers. “I remember a social that they organized in Giebelstadt, Germany. They brought in singers and dancers. They had tents with soup, ice cream. They had places where you can play video games and others where you could take a nap. It was a nice feeling of being appreciated.”

The Legion Riders, made entirely of military veterans, are continually working for the El Paso community. Probably their biggest effort is their Thanksgiving turkey dinner giveaway in the colonias in east El Paso County. Last year, they served a package with a full turkey dinner for about 200 families. Some were even taken directly to the family’s homes via a parade of Riders.
Daniel Chavez wanted to personally address the  participants of their run: “Thank you for supporting the USO and everything they do for soldiers.”