The Colorado Legacy Scholarship Campaign is a year long effort to generate funds for the American Legion Veterans and Children Foundation. The Colorado Campaign capstone event is an ALR Legacy Run in the form of our annual Pony Express Run. There is one collection effort across the Colorado American Legion family throughout the year that will culminate with the Pony Express run on Sunday 28 June 2026. Click on the 2025 campaign logo below to download the 2026 campaign pamphlet – 2026 format will be very similar. to 2025 The pamphlet can be used for distribution to Colorado American Legion families as well as external donor prospects across Colorado.
Scan or click the QR code to donate online and/or Click the Legacy graphic to download the 2026 campaign pamphlet
The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation was established in 1925 as the American Legion Endowment Fund. Since then, the donation-driven fund has helped millions of disabled veterans and military/veteran families facing unexpected, threatening challenges. The foundation is a separate tax-deductible nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with a dedicated board of directors and national steering committee. It was renamed The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation in 2019 to better reflect those it serves.
Previous annual American Legion Rider Legacy Campaigns focused support to the American Legion Legacy Scholarship fund. This fund was established to provide needsbased scholarships to children of those killed in action, died on active duty and 50% or greater disabled veterans. Thanks to the tremendous support of donors not only in Colorado, but across the nation, the cumulative donations helped the fund become self-sustaining during the 2023-2024 years, ensuring that all who met the need and eligibility criteria could be awarded scholarships. With that goal achieved, the annual American Legion Rider Legacy Campaign efforts nationwide have shifted to support the Veterans and Children Foundation with the same goal of achieving self-sustainment through year over year giving.
2026 Colorado Legacy Pony Express Run
As in 2025, The 2026 run will preceded by a staging run 20 June 2025 from Delta and Montrose, CO to Cortez, CO.
On 28 June 2026, legs will begin in Cortez, CO; La Junta, CO; Firestone, CO and Fort Collins, CO. Each leg will stop at intermediate relay stations enroute to the final stop. Those stations will post here once routes are finalized.
2026 Routes and Timing
SE Route – Billy Hallman ALR 9 Lead
- The SE Route departs La Junta at 0600, proceeding to Alamosa via Hwy 160.
- SE Route will stage in Alamosa at the Hwy17 loaf and jug until linking with the SW Route at 1000.
SW Route – Durango ALR Post 28 Lead
- Cortez Post 75 will link with Durango Post 28 and pass satchel
- Durango Post 28 will proceed to Del Norte via Hwy 160 to arrive for link up with San Luis Post 142
- San Luis Post 142 will meet Durango Post 28 at 0900 in Del Norte
- Depart Del Norte by 0915 to proceed to Alamosa Loaf & Jug at Hwy 17. Â
Merged SE/SW Route – Billy Hallman ALR 9 Lead
- The merged routes will depart the Hwy 17 Loaf and Jug Alamosa at 1015, proceeding up Hwy 17 to Hwy 285
- Proceed on Hwy 185 over Poncha Pass to meet Post 2 in Poncha Springs at 1130
- Depart Poncha Springs 1140 to Canon City via Hwy 50
- Arrive Canon City by 1300. Lunch 1300 – 1400, depart for final stop
- Arrive 105 West Brewing, 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd. Colorado Springs, CO at 1500.
NW Route – Steve Hayes ALR 209 Lead
- Depart Post 4 Ft Collins KSU 0845 (POC Luke Bethel).Â
- Arrive Post 32 Longmont via N Overland-Taft-Hwy 287 1000 KSU 1020 (POC Karl Paulson).
- Arrive Post 161 Arvada via Hwy287 1110 KSU 1145 (POC Fred Muskopf). Sack Lunch available for purchase at Post 161
- Arrive Post 178 Lakewood via Kipling-20th-Simms St 1205 KSU 1230 (POC Steve Peterson)
- Arrive Eagles Castle Rock (Post 1187) via I470-Hwy 121-Hwy 85/87 1330 KSU 1345Â (POC Zach Wirth)
- Arrive at 105 West Brewing, 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd. Colorado Springs, CO, via Wolfensberger Rd-Hwy105 Palmer Lake-County Line Rd-I25 by 1500.
NE Route – Steve Butner ALR 180 Lead
- Depart Post 1985 Firestone KSU 1030.Â
- Arrive Post 180 Keenesburg 1100 KSU 1115.Â
- Arrive Post 183 Strasburg 1200 KSU 1215.
- Arrive Falcon at Safeway 1330 KSU 1345
- Arrive 105 West brewing, 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 1430.
Final Stop
The Final stop for the 2026 campaign is 105 West Brewing (same physical location as 2025), 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd. Colorado Springs, CO. https://www.105westbrewing.com/. Final Stop Setup will begin at 2pm and the target time for arrival of all legs will be 3pm. All donors and legion family are welcome to join us at the final stop to help celebrate the 2026 campaign to support VCF!
2025 Colorado Legacy Run: Pony Express
The main 2025 Pony express was conducted on Saturday 5 July 2025.
The 2025 Legacy Run was preceded by a staging run 28 June 2025 from Delta and Monthrose, CO to Cortez, CO. On 5 July 2025, legs began in Cortez, CO; La Junta, CO; Firestone, CO and Fort Collins, CO. Each leg stopped at intermediate relay stations enroute to the final stop. The Final stop for the 2025 campaign was Trinity Brewing Company, 1466 Garden of the Gods Rd. Colorado Springs, CO. https://www.trinitybrew.com/. The 2025 Colorado ALR Pony Express brought in a total of $21,753 for the Veterans and Children Foundation, which was turned in for the by the Colorado Contingent to the National Convention in Tampa Florida.
2024 Pony Express
In the Colorado American Legion Riders effort to support this invaluable program for the children of our fallen, Colorado American Legion Post families across the state engage in fundraising efforts or will contribute to the Legacy Scholarsip fundraising effort in conjunction with their program during the year. The donations received are consolidated at various relay stations across the state. On July 6th, 2024, Colorado American Legion Riders conducted the state-wide Pony Express run, riding one of the designated routes to collect donations from each of the relay stations. All routes merged into a central collection point in the afternoon for a campaign celebration and some good old-fashioned fun.
The 2024 Colorado ALR Pony Express Final Relay stop was at Parry Pizzeria and Tap House (Interquest) in Colorado Springs, CO, where are total of $24,495 was turned in for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, With close out donations, The Colorado Contingent was able to present check for $25,815 at the 2024 National Convention.
Here are some photos from the 2024 run. Send any you want posted to coloradolegionriders@gmail.com and we will get the added.
2023 Legacy Campaign – Awesome Job Colorado!!!
The 2023 Campaign was a collaborative effort organized by Post and district ALR members. A total of $33,796.81 was presented at the 2023 National convention by the delegation that was in attendance from Colorado. This donation constituted the highest ever annual donation from American Legion in Colorado, exceeding the previous high by nearly $6000. This is the result of the combined leadership efforts of Colorado American Legion Rider Post programs in concert with Colorado Posts, SAL Squadrons, Auxiliary units, other post programs and post family obtained external donors. The 2023 Colorado campaign was led by post level volunteers from multiple post families and culminated with a post level led Pony Express from all corners of the state and ending in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 8 July 2023.
This effort showcases how much the Colorado Legion family can accomplish working together to achieve mission. SUPERB job by everyone!!!
2022 and prior runs
