The American Legion Legacy Run will be held in August. From left are Maine American Legion Rider Public Relations Officer Paul R. Bernard and National Commander Martin Conatser, who will kick off the run from Indianapolis.

Legion Legacy Run announced for August

TURNER – National Commander Marty Conatser will help kick off the 2008 American Legion Legacy Run from Indianapolis to the 90th annual American Legion National Convention in Phoenix in August.

Hundreds of Legion Riders from across the United States will gather for the third consecutive year in Indianapolis. They will travel through seven states and the Southwestern deserts for five days to make possible a college education for the children of American servicemen and women who have died defending freedom since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Other riders will join each day and increase the number of participants along the 1,800-mile route, which follows along much of the famous “Route 66.” The riders’ goal is to raise no less than $350,000 for the American Legion Legacy scholarship.

Last year the Legion Riders of Maine and the American Legion Department of Maine raised more than $6,200 for the cause. The goal this year is to double that amount.

All Legion Posts in Maine are invited to take part. Legion Riders will pick up donation. Contact the Riders by going to http://legionriders.mainelegion.org/maine_chapters.htm or contact Director Paul L’Heureux at [email protected] or Assistant Director Bill Kilde at [email protected].

The American Legion Riders have chapters in Post 153, Auburn; Post 15, Caribou; Post 42, Damariscotta; Post 28, Farmington; Post 147, Madawaska; Post 150, Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland; Post 112, Oxford; Post 132, Richmond; Post 1, Rockland; Post 24, Rumford; Post 202, Topsham; and Post 111, Turner.

Make all checks payable to the American Legion Department of Maine with a note that funding is for the Legacy Scholarship Fund. They can be sent to the American Legion Department of Maine, PO Box 900, Waterville ME 04903.

All eligible veterans, sons of veterans, grandsons of veterans and great-grandsons of veterans can join the American Legion Rider program.