Dear Sir,
This letter is in response to the Letter to the Editor from Mr. Hank Shriver published in the July 7-13 Guadalajara Reporter.
In his letter, Mr. Shriver makes several allegations regarding political action by the elected officers of American Legion Post 9 that are simply not true.
There are two American Legions in the municipality of Chapala: American Legion Post 7 in Chapala and Post 9 in Ajijic. Our main mission is to provide assistance to all veterans of the U.S. military and to children in our Mexican communities. Our two posts have been active for over 20 years providing assistance to veterans and community service organizations and programs such as La Ola Girls Orphanage, Tepehua Community Center, Toys for Tots, Love in Action Orphanage, Lakeside Assistance Group, La Labor Camp School, Hope House Boys Orphanage, the Shriners, and more.
The American Legion Officers Guide, Article lll, page 106, states in Section 2: “This organization shall be absolutely nonpolitical and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles nor the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment.”
Contrary to the erroneous accusations by Mr. Shiver, we three officers of American Legion Post 9 have not publically supported any past or current U.S. president’s election policies. Nor do we support the separation of children from immigrant parents and we have never had “political” bumper stickers on our cars.
Also, contrary to Mr. Shiver’s allegation, we love living in Mexico. Each of us have many Mexican friends and we have all worked tirelessly to support numerous Mexican charities.
To the best of our knowledge, none of us three Post 9 officers have ever had the occasion to meet Mr. Shiver. Therefore, we invite him to join us for lunch at American Legion Post 7 in Chapala on Tuesday, July 24, 12:30 p.m. to repeat his false allegations in a face-to-face meeting.
Don Lott, Commander, American Legion Post 9; Frank Callom, 1st Vice Commander, American Legion Post 9; Perry King, 2nd Vice Commander, American Legion Post 9