AUBURN – American Legion National Commander Martin Conatser received a check for $400 from Department of Maine Commander Paul L’Heureux for the 2008 American Legacy Scholarship Fund.

The American Legion started the scholarship fund to provide scholarships for children of military personnel killed on duty since Sept. 11, 2001.

Country music artist Michael Peterson is serving as the national spokesman for the fund. Peterson has pledged that 50 percent of the profits of his DVD, “It’s Who We Are,” will go to the fund.

The American Legion Riders organize rides and events across the country on Sept. 11 each year to help raise funds for the scholarship. The Riders have been accepted as an official American Legion program, along with its other program, Sons of the American Legion.

Veterans, sons, grandsons or adopted sons of a veteran may qualify to join. For more information, go to [email protected] or www.maineamericanlegion.com.

Legion posts with active Rider programs are Auburn, Caribou, Damariscotta, Farmington, Richmond, Rockland, Oxford, Rumford and Topsham.