Join us in New Scotland, NY for our fourth annual 6.8-mile
Veterans Day RUCK MARCH Fundraiser!
Nearly 180 participants joined our 6.8-mile march and afterparty for the third iteration of our Ruck March in November 2025.
DATE:
Saturday, 8 November 2025
Location:
Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
Time:
* Check-in begins at 1330 (1:30pm)
* Dignitary Remarks begin at 1420 (2:20pm)
* Step-Off is at 1500 (3:00pm)
* “Finishers’ Reception” begins at 1730 (5:30pm) at the Northern Barrell!
* * * * * *
Register by noon on Saturday, 1 November 2025 to receive a FREE Ruck March event T-SHIRT!
NOTES:
1) The American Legion Post 1493 is located at 31 Voorheesville Ave, Voorheesville, NY 12186.
2) Click HERE for Event Parking information.
3) The turnaround point and EMT access is at the Rail Trail’s intersection with Font Grove Road.
4) Click HERE for a list of items the Food Pantries needs, and which you can carry in your ruck sack!
5) Pets are welcome to join you along the route!
6) Restroom and port-o-john facilities will be available at the American Legion, Northern Barrell, and 3-miles down the ruck route, at the intersection of Upper Font Grove and Font Grove Roads.
Our annual RUCK MARCH wouldn’t be possible without the tremendous support of Northern Barrell (the site of our raucous “Finishers’ Reception”) and the Voorheesville American Legion (our assembly and step-off site). We’re also grateful to the Albany County Parks & Recreation Department for permitting our use of the Rail Trail, and especially to our native Town of New Scotland for its relentless support of veteran-owned companies like ours.
* * * DONATE TO OUR PARTNER NONPROFITS! * * *
Want to support our nonprofit partners but can't participate in the Ruck March this year? No worries! We'll gladly accept donations on behalf of the Boot Campaign, Hidden Battles Foundation, Capital Region Veterans Memorial, and Food Pantries for the Capital District. (See partner info below.)
What’s a “ruck march”?
The ruck march is a staple of military training—a test of physical ability and mental stability. The objective is simple: get from point A to point B with all the essentials on your back in a “ruck sack” weighing between 35 and 85 lbs.
In our case, the “essentials” are any groceries and supplies (food, toiletries, etc.) that participants wish to donate after shouldering the load down and back the Albany County Rail Trail.
Runners / Walkers are welcome!
You needn’t don a ruck sack to participate. Come as you are; we’ll undertake the challenge together!
RUCK MARCH ROUTE INFO:
Click HERE to see the route map.
Our ruck march will commence at Voorheesville’s American Legion Post 1493 and proceed 0.3 miles down Voorheesville Avenue, over the railroad tracks, to the Rail Trail intersection.
Participants will then march 3.1 miles down the Rail Trail—past the historic Hilton Barn—to the intersection of Font Grove Road. There, ruck marchers will “about face” and head back to the Legion, whereupon finishers will be greeted with a raucous catered after-party to commend their performance and collect all comestibles intended for donation!
We’re so proud to partner with these venerable nonprofits:
Our 6.8-mile Veterans Day “ruck march” fundraiser supports the Hidden Battles Foundation, the Boot Campaign, the Capital Region Veterans Memorial, and the Food Pantries for the Capital District.
HIDDEN BATTLES FOUNDATION
The Hidden Battles Foundation strives to preserve the mental health of active and retired Veterans and First Responders (firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, nurses). Specializing in the treatment of alcoholism, PTSD, suicide, and depression, Hidden Battles leverages community-based and peer-lead activities to support our country’s heroes and their loved ones. New Scotland Spirits donates 68% of the profits from every bottle sold of our 68W American Corn Whiskey to this wonderful organization.
BOOT CAMPAIGN
The Boot Campaign provides holistic care to veterans of any era and any branch, treating diverse health challenges connected to Posttraumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and trauma-based insomnia, chronic pain, and substance abuse. Its providers work to identify the root cause of hidden wounds of war, delivering personalized treatment plans to veterans and their families. New Scotland Spirits donates 100% of the profits from the Veterans Day Ruck March registration fees to this indispensable nonprofit—which has been crucial to one of our own team members.
CAPITAL REGION VETERANS MEMORIAL
A tribute to veterans (and their families) hailing from New York’s eleven Capital Region counties (Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington). CRVM honors those who served and those who’ve fallen while creating an environment in which veterans and their families can share their experiences, share their emotions, and feel that they are not alone.
THE FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE CAPITAL DISTRICT
The Food Pantries for the Capital District is a coalition of more than 65 food pantries in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties working together to feed the hungry. Food pantries provide nutritious food to babies, children, seniors, veterans, and struggling families. New Scotland Spirits donates 100% of all groceries and supplies purchased by ruck march participants, as carried on their backs in “ruck sacks” during the ruck march.
When it comes to donations, we’ve come a long way in just three iterations of our Veterans Day ruck march — increasing the size of our haul by about a thousand pounds each year!
Participants need not carry a ruck sack. But those who wish to re-live their glory days are invited to weigh themselves down with toiletries and nonperishables for donation to the Food Pantries for the Capital District.
=== LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE ===
November 8, 2024
”Ruck Commander” discusses ruck march
In his third sit-down with WTEN News10’s Stephanie Rivas, New Scotland Spirits founder and “Ruck Commander” Jesse Sommer discusses the inspiration for and mission of his company’s Veterans Day “Ruck March” nonprofit fundraiser. Click for more WTEN coverage.
November 29, 2024
March honors veterans, supports local groups
A reporter from Capital Region Independent Media—publisher of some of the Capital District’s most indispensable local newspapers—attended the Dignitary Remarks and Ruck March step-off in support of this annual spectacle. We’re so grateful for the coverage!
November 6, 2024
New Scotland Spirits helps lead vets, local community in Ruck March to support causes
Spotlight Newspapers managing editor Michael Hallisey examines the mission and inspiration behind New Scotland Spirits’s annual Veterans Day “Ruck March” fundraiser.
2023: WNYT News Channel 13 interviews Rosamaria Luppino and Bryan Kafka about the New Scotland Spirits “2nd annual Veterans Day Ruck March Fundraiser” in the heart of the Town of New Scotland.
2024: WNYT shows some love for the 3rd annual event, and additionally interviews “Ruck Commander” Jesse Sommer.
November 5, 2023
Service and Whiskey: What better way to Honor Veterans
True Brew Magazine reviews the history of and motivation for the second annual “Veterans Day RUCK MARCH Fundraiser” as orchestrated by New Scotland Spirits.
Click to download the article.
November 11, 2022
Veterans Day “Ruck March” Fundraiser
& Launch of 68W
Albany’s beloved WTEN News10 news anchor Stephanie Rivas sits down with New Scotland Spirits founder Jesse Sommer to discuss his company’s service-oriented mission, its Veterans Day “Ruck March” fundraiser, and the launch of 68W—an American corn whiskey postured to financially support and celebrate those who’ve served.
PHOTO GALLERY
More than 150 participants joined us for the 2nd annual Veterans Day RUCK MARCH nonprofit fundraiser in November 2023.
