“Ruck to Remember” comes through Amherstburg to aid homeless vets

Ruckers were welcomed and marched into Amherstburg last Thursday evening.

Ruckers gathered with cadets, members of the Amherstburg and surrounding Legions, cadets and supporters at Br. 157. The “Ruck to Remember” aids veterans who are either homeless or nearing homelessness.

An initiative to aid homeless veterans and those nearing homelessness came to Windsor-Essex County and Chatham-Kent last week.

The “Ruck to Remember” was held with participants carrying ruck sacks weighing about 50 pounds each to and from participating Legions in the area. One of the participating Legions was Royal Canadian Legion Br. 157

Participants “rucked” for four days from Sept. 10-14, with ruckers walking approximately 140 kilometres across four days. The distance is calculated based on every veteran and first responder that has been lost over the past year.

It began last Wednesday at Royal Canadian Legion Br. 644 in Windsor, before heading out the next day. After stops at the Tilston Armoury in Windsor and lunch in LaSalle, the group came into Amherstburg last Thursday.

The ruckers came into town around 5 p.m. that day, and were met by cadets, branch members, police and fire, and escorted to the Amherstburg Legion. 

“We are honoured to have this group in our branch,” said Legion Br. 157 president Shawn Wilkie.

The “Ruck to Remember” is in its eleventh year and has raised over $1.2 million so far to help less fortunate veterans, noted Wilkie. About 1,250 veterans have been helped through the “Leave the Streets Behind” program.

Donations came in from the Legion district, zone, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Legion and Ladies Auxiliary from Br. 399 in Belle River, and the Harrow Legion, with the North Wall Riders motorcycle club helping to block off intersections and help with traffic control.

Lino Di Julio of Hamilton was one of the ruckers and addressed the crowd in Amherstburg. He credited the Legions, cadets and all supporters for backing what they do, as they “make it worth it” by helping the cause.

Di Julio added there are dedicated staff and volunteers who help find homeless veterans and give them support.

“They are doing fantastic work.”

The ruckers spent Thursday night in Amherstburg before heading to Kingsville the following day where they stopped at Legion Br. 188. 

On Saturday, they went from Kingsville to Comber and on the final day last Sunday, they went from Comber to Chatham Br. 642.

For more information, visit www.ruck2remember.com. 

“Ruck to Remember” comes through Amherstburg to aid homeless vets

By Ron Giofu