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For the last couple of years, the Glenville American Legion Riders Post 264 consisted of only two members, Ron McIntire and Dennis Fredrickson.

Recently, however, interest for the organization picked up, leading to a surge in membership.

“The group is going. We’ve got 40-some members,” said McIntire. “Denny and I are [really] happy that it’s happened. We love their drive, their energy that they brought with them, and we love their dedication as far as honoring veterans, helping veterans, helping the community and that’s what this is all about.”

The group, McIntire said, is family-oriented and consists of men and women.

“How it really started is that we’re a bunch of veterans or Sons of the American Legion or auxiliary members that want to have the camaraderie but still do something we all enjoy — and that’s riding motorcycles,” said Bruce Camerer, director of the Glenville Riders. “We go to motorcycle rides that benefit either veterans or veterans’ survivors or family, and we just help out the veterans ourself, and that’s our goal. It’s not about the applause; it’s about the cause.”

The American Legion Auxiliary from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday will host a welcome party for the Glenville American Legion Riders as well as people interested in learning more about the group. There will be a sloppy joe dinner and karaoke. Camerer said the hope is that people will see what they’re all about and will become members.

Camerer, like many of the Glenville Riders members, previously belonged to the Albert Lea American Legion Post 56.

“We decided that we were better suited to be down here in order to help more people,” said Camerer. One difference, he explained, is that the Albert Lea American Legion focused specifically on helping the Albert Lea community while the Glenville American Legion Riders will focus on helping Glenville as well as the surrounding communities.

McIntire said the Glenville post has been open and receptive to their plans and ideas, which has been a big help.

Hosting the Riders at the Glenville American Legion has been mutually beneficial for all.

“We’re glad we’re getting a good bunch of fellows, and so far things are going pretty smooth,” said Bruce Stilley, commander at the Glenville Legion.

In addition to Saturday’s party, the Glenville Riders plan to hold more fundraisers and motorcycle rides benefiting veterans in the near future.

The best way to get updates on these events, Camerer said, is through the group’s Facebook page, American Legion Riders Chapter 264 Glenville, MN.

When people request it, the Glenville Riders also do flag lines to escort the remains of fallen soldiers from the funeral home to the grave site with a procession of bikes.

The only requirement of being in the Glenville American Legion Riders, said Sgt. at Arms Wes Halverson, is that a person must be a member of the American Legion family in some capacity — whether it be the American Legion itself, Sons of the American Legion or Auxiliary — and own a licensed motorcycle of any variety.

Those interested in learning more about the Glenville American Legion are invited to come to the organization’s monthly meeting as a guest. Meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Glenville Legion.

“I just think we have a spark here that our Glenville post will grow,” said Glenville Auxiliary President Sandy Fredrickson. “I think there’s just going to be something beautiful coming out of it.”