Here's the response Post 304 member Jim Stoll received from National Headquarters regarding his letter reproduced below. It is lacking the National American Legion masthead as I was not able to reproduce it.

May 11, 2006

Mr. James Stoll
3862 Nowlin Rd. NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144

Dear Mr. Stoll,

Thank you for your letter to National Commander Tom Bock. The Commander is away from the office on official travels for the organization and has asked me to respond in his behalf. I serve as staff liaison to the National Americanism Commission that has administrative responsibility for our positions on illegal aliens.

The American Legion shares your frustration with the illegal alien situation in this country. We have not been silent on the issue even though you may not have heard our voice in Kenesaw. The American Legion provided written testimony to the Senate debate on reform legislation. Some of us have appeared on television and have written letters to newspapers stating our objection to legislation proposals for illegals in this country.

The American Legion has numerous position resolutions on this subject and many of them are included in our legislative agenda. As such, they are provided to Members of Congress as the official position of The American Legion. These include:

• Opposition to any program, policy or directive that would grant illegal aliens legal permission to remain in the United States;
• Strict enforcement of employer sanctions as called for in current employment laws (but are not being enforced);
• Secure our borders from those seeking illegal entry, including the hiring and training of additional U.S. Border Patrol agents with employment preference afforded former members of the U.S. Armed Forces;
• Petition the government to authorize and encourage federal, state and local law enforcement to arrest and detain individuals, including illegal aliens, who are suspected of violating the immigration laws of the United States;
• Deny illegal aliens from receiving Social Security benefits, unemployment compensation and other types of taxpayer-supported forms of public assistance; and
• English be designated as the official language of the United States.

The United States is a country of laws; restrictions on behavior not in the best interest of this country. They were put there for a reason. The government's failure to enforce them is the root of the problem we face today. In fact, if the immigration laws had been enforced previously, there would be no problem today.

The message I have been sharing with people, like you, who have contacted this office about the illegal aliens issue is that you, and people like you, can influence the vote of your elected representatives in Congress. I would encourage you to contact them through their local office in your district and state. Tell them that you, as a taxpaying citizen of the United States, expect them to act in the best interests of this country and not reward those who have broken our immigration laws.

Thank you for your interest in this matter and please be assured that The American Legion Shares your concerns....and your frustrations.

Sincerely,
/s/ Ronald A. Engel
RONALD A. ENGEL, Deputy Director
Americanism/Children & Youth Division

C: Thomas L. Beck, National Commander
Joseph Caouette, Jr., Chairman - National Americanism Commission
Marty Justis, Director - Americanism and Children & Youth
Robert A. Pollard, Commander - The American Legion of Georgia
Charles R. Knox, Adjutant - The American Legion of Georgia
Ray Hendrix, National Executive Committeeman - Georgia