By Mark Wineka
mark.wineka@salisburypost.com

CLEVELAND — The Legion Riders of Kennedy-Hall American Legion Post 106 will conduct their Wreaths Across America Poker Run this coming Saturday. It will cover 134 miles and travel through several counties.

The poker run is a major fundraiser for the Legion Riders and goes toward the purchase of wreaths that will be placed on graves at the Salisbury National Cemetery Annex (next to the Hefner VA Medical Center) in December.

The goal is to cover 8,000 grave sites. Last year, the Wreaths Across America program placed 1.2 million wreaths at 1,226 locations, including the Salisbury National Cemetery.

“Our mission is to remember, honor and teach,” says Tom Kopetzky, a Marine and adjutant for the Kennedy-Hall Post in Cleveland. “Remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach future generations about sacrifices that were made to preserve our freedoms.”

Kopetzky says the wreaths for the Salisbury National Cemetery will be set out on Dec. 16. More than 100 volunteers usually help in laying the wreaths.

“The sad thing is you never have enough,” Kopetzky says. “It makes you want to work harder.”

Wreaths Across America is a top-rated nonprofit. “Everything raised,” Kopetzky said of the poker run event, “goes to Wreaths Across America.”

For Saturday’s poker run, registration will be 9 a.m., and the “kickstands up” call will happen at 10 a.m. The registration, start and conclusion of the poker run will take place at the Kennedy-Hall American Legion Post, 6250 N.C. Highway 801.

The poker run’s route will go to Harmony American Legion Post 113, Winston-Salem Post 55, Cooleemee Post 54, Samuel C. Hart Post 14 in Salisbury, the Salisbury National Cemetery and back to Kennedy-Hall Post 106.

Those participating will ride together.

“Safety is paramount in everything we do,” Kopetzky said.

Cost to participate is $15 per rider and $10 per passenger. Prizes are $200 for the winning poker hand and $100 for the worst hand. Bob Kennerly serves as director for the Legion Riders.

At the end of the ride, the post will have barbecue dinners and door prizes. Participants are expected to arrive back at the Kennedy-Hall Post about 4:30 p.m. Vehicles other than motorcycles are allowed to participate.

If they want, people can pre-register for the poker run by stopping in at the legion post.

Donations for the legion post’s Wreaths Across America effort also can be made online by going to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. and searching through the donation link for the local fund-raising group NC0162 (Kennedy-Hall American Legion Riders Post 106).

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.