Dear Editor,
The American Legion Riders would like to say thanks to Dale Phillips and Mick Lang from Barton County Road and Bridge Dept. for inviting the American Legion Riders to participate in the dedication of Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Golden Belt Cemetery. This is the kind of thing the Riders are all about.
Thanks to Sheriff Brian Bellendir and his staff for the escort they provided to Great Bend Cemetery, the Arkansas River Bridge, and the the Golden Belt Cemetery. This allows us to stay safe and see that no one is hurt.
We also want to thank Police Chief Dean Akins and officers for the many years of escorting the American Legion Riders through out the city for send offs, welcome homes and military funerals.  Both of these fine law enforcement agencies have staff who are also American Legion Riders. Both understand the importance of the Legion Riders.
We truly enjoyed the ceremony and speeches from Richard Beckman and county commissioners. We were overwhelmed with commissioner Don Davis who shook the hand and thanked each and every rider. We enjoy serving the local community and the great cooperation we have with local officials and law enforcement.
We will continue to promote the Barton County Veterans Memorial and contact family members to support the wall by putting their loved ones names on the walls. Members of the Post 180 family also attended the Pawnee Valley Veterans Memorial dedication on Memorial Day in Larned. It is also a beautiful memorial with the wall of Pawnee County Veterans names all ready etched into the walls. We joined fellow riders from Hays, Larned and Hutchinson for the dedication. Overall it was a great weekend which reminded our community why “All Gave Some, Some Gave All.”
Chris Krueger,
Director, American Legion Riders Great Bend