Publisher’s note: The following letter was sent to South Lake Tahoe City Councilmen Hal Cole and Tom Davis on March 6, 2016. It is republished with permission.

Dear Hal and Tom,

I watched your meeting of March 1 of this year and heard comments about me stopping a member of the City Council from being in the Fourth of July parade. First and foremost, the American Legion does not get involved with politics whatsoever, second I have not and will not try to stop anyone from being in the parade, as I do not have anything to do with the parade so how could I stop someone from being in it? I think JoAnn [Conner] misspoke when she said I and Curt Emrie did not want a member of the City Council in the parade. The only issue we would have with the council is the elimination of the craft fairs that we the American Legion received proceeds from for letting them use our parking lot.

I would like to invite the City Council to the American Legion Post 795 on St. Patrick’s day of the 17th of this month and be free to talk to the veterans, have dinner and enjoy the evening. I would like to answer any questions you might have about the American Legion, I would also like to say that we have been getting different stories about the City Council and what has actually taken place, so you are not the only ones that are confused! I would like to mend the differences that we have and let us all get along together. If this is something you would like to do also, then please call me and I will arrange to meet with you.

Thank you,

Matt Panks, commander Post 795 American Legion, South Lake Tahoe