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PILLAR II: NATIONAL SECURITY

The American Legion’s positions on national defense,
homeland security, border control and military support
are all part of the long-held American Legion value that
the key to peace and world stability is a strong, well-
resourced defense.
In order to protect America, troops and their families
must have support. The American Legion plays a vital
role in supporting the men and women who risk their
lives to protect our freedoms.
American Legion posts throughout the nation adopt
military units, deliver care packages, provide emotional
support for families of deployed servicemembers and
welcome the troops home.
For example, American Legion Post 201 in Alpharetta,
Ga., hit a major milestone in 2019, about 16 years after
starting a project to send care packages to deployed troops.
That year, the post sent off its 10,000th care package to
a deployed servicemember, surpassing by 9,900 pack-
ages the original goal for the project.
Another area where The American Legion – with com-
munity service as one of its pillars – is heavily involved
is in blood donation efforts.
The American Legion Blood Donor Program has ex-
isted officially since 1942 to help that cause. Each year
– especially since 9/11 – Legionnaires have donated to
support the American Red Cross.
legion.org/security

The National Emergency Fund made it possible for us to
immediately start to rebuild and to make things happen.
Without that initial input, I think we would have been way
behind schedule.
- Bob Grinis, first vice commander of
Post 11 in Arcadia, Fla., which re-opened on
schedule after a hurricane decimated the post

The American Legion | Why You Should Belong 7