2025 California Legacy Run: A New Mission, Same Determination

For the past 17 years, American Legion Riders across the country have supported the American Legion’s Legacy Scholarship Fund through various fundraising events. The primary source of funds were the American Legion Legacy Run and several in-state Legacy Runs, such as the California Legacy Run.

As of 2024, the National Leadership of the American Legion has asked the American Legion Riders to change the focus of their efforts as the Legacy Scholarship Fund has enough money to be self-sustaining. In its place, we have been asked to support the American Legion Veterans and Childrens Foundation.

The American Legion Veterans and Childrens Foundation, also known as “The Foundation of Hope”, provides temporary assistance for military and veteran parents in unexpected financial crises and support for service officers in their tireless efforts to obtain care and due benefits and opportunities of disabled veterans and families.

The 2025 California Legacy Run is proud to join other American Legion Riders across the country in this new mission with the same determination.

How we did it

Great ideas born out of passion

On August 14, 2018, six American Legion Riders from ALRDOC Chapters 26, 684 and 716 departed California to join approximately 500 Riders from across the United States in Hutchinson, Kansas for the running of the 13th Annual American Legacy Run, more commonly known as "The Legacy Run."

While having dinner on the first night of their ride to Kansas, the six California Riders, Paul and April LaPierre; Michael Cash, Debbie Proffitt and Art "Gunny" Odom, Ralph Wenzinger and Rochelle M.Billet-Smith began discussing and wondering why, if California is always leading the way, then why we didn't have a state Legacy Run as many other departments do?

The committee

The brainstorming continued as the California Riders traveled together and eventually were joined by Mick Sobczak, ALRDOC President. The idea was pitched to President Sobczak and a committee was established to plan and put on the 1st California Legacy Run. The committee, including Rochelle M.Billet-Smith and 12 other Riders which have been meeting twice a month since returning in September from the National Legacy Run the committee was formed and chaired by Michael Cash.

In the books

On June 28, 2019 the American legion Riders’ Inaugural Scholarship Run was entered into the books with no medical issues, no mechanical issues, no accidents. Mick Sobczak Jr. Past ALRDOC President along with Marten Borg from American Legion Post 149 presented a $23,906.00 check on behalf of the California Legion Riders for the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund during the 101st national convention of The American Legion in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Committee as originally formed in 2018

ALR
Post 111 - HEALDSBURG

Founding Legacy Committee Member

Ed Doitteau

Legacy SITE Web Manager

I gained much of my vast technological experience working in a variety of industries and educational institutions. What carved my path into this discipline was my 15 years of honorable and good conduct in the United States Navy as a Cryptologic Technician. I am proud to serve the communities as an America Legionnaire while maintaining my membership with Post 111 Healdsburg.

Although, I still hold a “9 to 5” very demanding job as a Project Manager at Duckhorn Wine Company in Sonoma County; I will always make the time to serve our veterans and community.

Department Membership Officer Secretary, ALR Chapter 26

Founding Legacy Committee Member, CLR Chairperson

Rochelle M. Billet-Smith

Department Membership Officer \ CLR Chairperson

I work for Kaiser Permanente in the OB-GYN Department in Bakersfield, CA. My involvement in the American Legion is due to being a spouse /widow of a Veteran who served during the Vietnam War. I currently serve as the 1st Vice President for the Auxiliary 15th District; Director of ALR Chapter 26; ALRDOC Department Membership Officer; and Chairperson of 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 California Legacy Runs. As a founding member of the California Legacy Run Committee one of my tasks has been planning the stops for all three days of the run.

It is the hope of the California Legacy Run Committee that individual and corporate donations will allow the American Legion Riders from the Department of California to make a sizeable contribution to the American Legion Legacy Scholarship fund at the American Legion National Convention. Please join us and make a difference!

Debbie “Den Mother” Proffitt

ALRDOC Secretary

California born and raised. I have 4 adult children, a Daughter-In-Law and 2 grandsons. I worked 36 years with special needs students.

My maternal 4th great grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. Both sides of the family fought in the Civil War. My father was a Navy vet of World War II. My uncles were Air Force vets during the Korean war. Multiple cousins are veterans and my 2 sons are Army veterans.

I joined the American Legion Auxiliary in 2006 as a way to give back to our veterans, enlisted and community. In 2012 I join the American Legion Riders Chapter 716 and have been, and continue to be, Chapter Secretary and Judge Advocate since then. In 2017 I became the American Legion Riders Department of California Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. In 2019 I was part of the committee to put together the California Legacy Run and became the Legacy Run Treasurer.

The California Legacy Run supports the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund where no hero’s child will be left behind!!

ALR Chapter 716 President

Founding Legacy Committee Member

Art “Gunny” Odom

President - Chapter 716

Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran. Seventeen years enlisted and Reserve. Worked 34 years with Pepsi. Joined the American Legion in 2003. Joined the Riders in 2008. Currently President with Chapter 716. Joined the VFW in 1970. Joined the 1st Marine Division Orange County Chapter in 1999 and am currently the Sergeant At Arms.

Jr. Past President,
ALR
Chapter 149 - Area 5

“Mumbles” does not suit him… he speaks often and is very articulate…

Mick Sobczak

“Being an American Legion Rider transcends generations,”

Mick Sobczak, Jr. Past President, Department of California American Legion Riders. Sobczak served in both the Marine Corps and the Army and retired as a combat engineer from the Army. He is a 10-year Legion member and the son of a 32-year Legion member from New York.

“We are a program of The American Legion, We are Legion Family members serving veterans and our community. We just happen to do it on motorcycle. If you’re in the military family and you want to ride, you’re welcome.”

Vice President Area 3
American Legion Riders, Department of California

Founding Legacy Committee Member

Paul LaPierre

ALR Chapter 684

I joined the American Legion in 2013 as a member of Post 1000. In 2015, I joined Post 684 in Ridgecrest and was one of the original founding members of Chapter 684 as Vice President. Later, I moved up to Chapter President and now am the Past President, Treasurer and Road Captain.

In 2018, my wife April and I along with several others from California (Ralph, Papa, Mike, John, Debbie, Art, Brian, Mary) participated in the National Legacy Scholarship run. While enjoying dinner in Arizona the group started brainstorming ideas on how we could start a Legacy Run in California. After several fun filled rainy, stormy, sunshine days of riding together we all came best of friends. Seeing what much smaller States were able to donate to such a great cause, we committed to seeing this idea to fruition.

Currently employed at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division as a Supervisor Logistics Management Specialist and the Division Head for the Weapons Logistics Integration Division.

The rest is history!

April Camacho LaPierre

ALR Chapter 684 Vice President

For over 30 years, I was a social worker and made a career change providing logistical support to various programs at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. In 2015, I joined the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 684 as one of the first five original founding members of ALR 684, holding different positions, currently serving as the Vice President.

In 2018, I participated in a life changing adventure, The National American Legion Legacy Run. While at dinner with our California group in Arizona, we started spit balling ideas for a potential California Legacy Run. Realizing states smaller than California were providing HUGE donations towards this worthy cause, I believe the Run turned into a recon mission.

The 14 states in 16 days from the seat of my Breakout was inspirational and humbling. The Patriotism, generosity, and American spirt I witnessed to support the education of children of our deceased and/or wounded Heroes was like nothing I had ever seen before. Town after town, event after event, thousands and thousands of dollars donated for a total of over 1.3 million dollars that year.

The camaraderie, friendships, and experiences were brought back to California creating the California Legacy Run committee, holding its first Run in 2019. I am optimistic, with time, this will grow and become an annual event, attracting hundreds of Riders, and raising thousands of dollars for the education of our Hero’s children.

State Vice Director of the American Legion Riders, Department of California

Founding Member, California Legacy Run Committee

Ralph Wenzinger AKA “PB&J”

I am honored to currently serve as the Vice Director for the American Legion Riders, Department of California. I have held numerous positions in both the American Legion Riders and the American Legion, Department of California over the course of my 13-year membership in the Legion. My eligibility for membership comes from my service in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. I am retired from the Bakersfield, CA police department after a 30-year career where, amongst my assignments, was 12 years as a motorcycle officer / instructor.

I am one of the “original six” who brainstormed the idea of a California Legacy Run over dinner one evening while riding to Kansas to participate in the National Legacy Scholarship Run in August 2018. It truly was a life changing experience which continues to motivate me. I am fortunate to count those I rode with to Kansas as lifelong friends. As a founding member of the California Legacy Run committee since its inception in September 2018, one of my tasks has been planning the route and stops for each of the Runs.

Please join us as we undertake a new mission: funding the American Legion Veterans and Children’s Foundation.

American Legion Rider

Founding Member California Legacy Run

Mike Cash “Papa Mike”

Born and raised at Camp Pendleton in a enlisted family and moved to China Lake in the late 50's. My life has always been about the military. Good times and bad. It did teach me about honor and a passion to serve. After college I joined Naval Air as a Air Delivered Weapons System Program Manager. 1980 to 2011. After retirement I continued to work with the national foundation I stared in 2003. Operation Family supports our families of severely injured OEF and OIF veterans and their caregivers. The foundation has grown to a multi million dollar foundation from a start of 100 dollars.
My passion of riding motorcycles turned into another way to serve thru Patriot Guard Riders in 2005 with over 200 missions, then Run For The Wall and Rolling Thunder in 2011 with 9 rides all the way across America to American Legion Riders in 2015. I had the honor to ride two cross country rides with the ALR National Legacy rides 2017 and 2018. I was involved with the first California Legacy run and hope to see this run grow and provide funding to our children of military KIA and wounded. It is such and honor to provide funding to our veterans support organizations like American Legion and many others. "The Honor is in Serving" to support our military and their families. God bless the United States of America.