Sunday afternoon was filled with hundreds of smiles as almost 100 American Legion Riders (ALR) descended on the town of Ponca City, Okla. during their annual Miles for Smiles event.

Riders from Post 408 in Derby-Haysville, Posts 256, 4 and 401 in Wichita, Post 68 in Hutchinson, Post 406 in Andover, Post 69 in Medicine Lodge, Post 18 in  Arkansas City, Post 2 in Newton and Post 14 in Ponca City, Okla., met at the Derby Police Department Sunday, with kick-stands up by 10 a.m. and the wind in their hair by 10:05 a.m.

These 30 bikers and 42 riders rode from Derby or their respective cities to the American Legion Riders Children’s Home in Ponca City.

“There were smiles everywhere as the American Legion Riders gave all the children rides on the bikes,” member Michael Saindon said. “All the children had to do was go stand by the bike that they wanted a ride on and the ALR would put a helmet on them, go over the safety rules of riding, and off they went.”

After about four hours, the ALR headed back home, looking forward to next year.

“Who knows who had more fun,” Saindon said. “Both the kid and the rider had smiles from ear to ear.”