The Tempe Veterans Day Parade on Thursday Nov. 11 has been canceled because, organizers said, they had “not received enough entries and enough marchers to hold this year’s parade.”
Tempe Veterans Day Parade, the nonprofit that is the event organizer, added that “this was an incredibly difficult decision as we are all committed to honoring our veterans. We plan on sending out applications next year and hope to see everyone next year.”
The Tempe Veterans Day Parade also was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It marked the first year since Armistice Day was created that there was not a parade in Tempe, because organizers said they could not come up with a logical way to keep participants and viewers safe.
Organizers said that they look forward to seeing all the parade participants next year and extend their thanks to all U.S. veterans for their service.
This is a disgrace both to our Veterans AND to the City of Tempe. Apparently parents haven’t taught their children why we celebrate it and the fact that virtually everything in our daily lives is a result of these men and women who have defended the nation and our people. God help these people, especially if they ever NEED our military services to defend them/us again.
You’re so right, our veterans deserve all our praise and thanks!
What is sad is the poorly researched headline.
First off, the city of Tempe does not organize or operate the parade. It is a private organization of volunteers who have taken on this labor of love each year.
Secondly, as accurately stated, last year, the parade did not take place due to Covid. The participants such as the high school bands must plan ahead for such events and given the continued concern regarding Covid that organizations such as the Tempe Union High School have expressed, it does not surprise me that participants are skiddish about participating this year. These are unprecedented times. If anything can be blamed for the cancellation this year it should be fear not lack of interest.
Many of us thank the current organizers who
have volunteered year in and year out for close to 3 decades to produce the Tempe Veterans Day Parade. We hope they will let the city actually become more involved in the event. Because the city of Tempe had always and will continue to honor our Vets.
But it is incredibly presumptuous and ill informed to say the parade was cancelled due to a lack of interest.
Thank you, Onnie, for your correction. The headline did generate interest. But it was misleading.