The American Legion Riders Chapter 9 hosts weekend events to raise funds for local veterans

Jacksonville — The American Legion Riders Chapter 9 will host the 9th Annual Boots on the Ground Poker Run and Concert in Jacksonville’s Flamingo Lake RV Resort on Saturday, May 7, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Over 1,000 motorcycles and 200 jeeps will parade along roads within the RV Park lined with over 3000 authentic - but used - combat boots - to honor America’s fallen veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and first responders from 9/11.

According to Marc Pica, the event’s organizer, each boot contains a picture of a fallen military hero and /or first responder. This year, the Riders added 13 boots to represent the soldiers killed at the airport in Afghanistan. Although Pica admits, they have yet to collect enough boots to represent every fallen hero.

Pica describes the day as emotional, humbling, and beautiful.

“I am so proud to be a part of this event,” he said. “The day literally sits in my heart and brings tears to my eyes. Everyone - especially our volunteers - put their hearts and souls into celebrating our military by honoring its fallen.”

Noted as the largest motorcycle event in Jacksonville, Julie Mixon-Bergeron launched the event in Fernandina Beach after her son, Kelly J. Mixon, an Army Specialist was KIA in Afghanistan in 2013. Determined to grow the commemoration into a motorcycle poker run, she approached Pica and The American Legion Riders Chapter 9. Pica and his comrades were “thrilled” to accept the assignment.

“We created the largest motorcycle poker run in the state of Florida,” he said. “The Boots on the Ground Poker Run and Concert is a two-day party that begins on Friday night with a kick off concert from The Remains.”

Motorcycles rev up their engines at at 11 a.m. to coincide with a flyover from the Dreamland Squadron.

“We’ll have the Side Project Band Pipe and Drum, the Paul Wayne Experience, Metal Mucil and the Duval County Line headlining our music lineup,” continued Pica. “Kick-off concert starts Friday night. And Saturday is an all day, kid-friendly event filled with vendors, food trucks and fun events including the states largest - 44 stop - poker run. There’s even a golf cart poker run.”

Pica explained that the monies from sponsorships like Dicks Wings, donations, registration and vendor fees will be equally distributed to “local veteran organizations that we can interact with those currently alive so we don’t have to memorialize them later.”

“Although we take nothing away from memorializing them,” he continued. “In the words of Calvin Coolidge, ‘A nation that forgets to defendants will soon itself be forgotten.’”

What was born and bred from grief now serves those who need it the most. Monies will be equally distributed to K9s For Warriors, Veteran’s Village of Northeast Florida, K9 Line, Inc., Project Vet Relief, Mission 22, The Florida Fallen Hero Memorial Fund and Wreaths Across America.

Boots for the event come from yearly boot drives from local bases.

“When military personnel get new combat boots, they bring us their old ones” Pica said. “As long as they’re in good condition as to not disrespect the fallen, we take them. The Boots are stored by Wayne Terry, a local veteran who owns Puro Clean, in a climate controlled warehouse as to maintain the rubber soles. Everyone who lends a hand is part of a really good thing.”

Pica concluded by inviting everyone to come out and experience the event that will “take you breath away.”

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 16

Boots on the Ground Poker Run

43 POKER STOPS ON 13 ROUTES: AMERICAN LEGION POSTS 9, 54, 88, 129,137, 250. 283, 316, 401 and 4; DICK’S WINGS BAR AND GRILL (OP, Nocotee, Callahan and Mandarin); WHISKEY JAX BAYMEADOWS; ST. NICK’S VFW POST 4351, 7909 & 10095; MOOSE LODGE; NASSAU CULHANE’S IRISH PUB; SS GREYBEARDS TAVERN; CHOPPERS BAR AND GRILL; BALD EAGLE PUB; MOOSE LODGE SOUTHSIDE FLEET RESERVE 290; COPPERTOP BAR AND RESTAURANT; MOOSE LODGE LEM TURNER.

43 POKER STOPS ON 13 ROUTES: WILD BILL’S SALOON; GATOR PATRICK’S; STEEL PONY; TIKI ISLAND TAPHOUSE; ADAMEC HD BAYMEADOW; FAT BOYZ ROADSIDE BAR; FLIGHT 747 LOUNGE; CRUZIN’ EDDIES BAR ON THE RIVER; TIP TOP TAVERN; MURRAY’S TAVERN; PALMS FISH CAMP; DEE’S MUSIC BAR AND GRILL TRADEWINDS LOCALS PUB; MONKEYS UNCLE; MANDARIN TNT LOUNGE CLAY HILL.

©2022 Cox Media Group