As the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history continues, multiple Veterans Day events across the country have been affected.
The shutdown entered its 38th day on Thursday with no end in sight as congressional Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on numerous funding issues to reopen the government.
One event that was affected was the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, which was scheduled for Nov. 11.
The Texas National Cemetery Foundation Inc., which has been holding the annual event for more than 20 years, deemed it “necessary” to cancel the event due to the government shutdown and has had to reach out to more than 300 people in order do so.
Many of the assets, resources, support, staff, equipment and the availability of the cemetery are in doubt, according to the Texas National Cemetery Foundation.
The uncertainty of the shutdown has made it unfeasible for the cemetery leadership to successfully assure the foundation it can make ready the many items it provides with the remaining time left until Veterans Day, even if the shutdown ended tomorrow.
“We have guests with airline tickets who must address that financial issue. We have sponsors who must stop volunteer food orders since we will not be putting the flags up and of course taking them down, as well as holding the hot dog event after the folding of the flags,” the Texas National Cemetery Foundation said in a statement.
Another event canceled due to the shutdown was the Hampton Veterans Day parade in Hampton, Va., which was scheduled for Nov. 8.
This was going to be their second year holding the event, but after evaluating the impacts of the shutdown, including the limitations placed on federal agencies and the Armed Forces and their inability to participate in community events, the city had to make the difficult call.
“Our veterans deserve to be recognized with great pomp and circumstance. Without the presence of our active-duty military, we are concerned that the parade would appear sparse and that the recognition might fall short of the honor our veterans so richly deserve,” said Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting.
The Veterans Day ceremony and celebration that were planned to follow the parade will proceed as scheduled at 11 a.m. in Fort Monroe’s Continental Park. For details on performing artists and exhibitors, visit FortMonroe.org. The city plans to resume the parade next year.
A third event canceled due to “continued lapse in appropriations from the ongoing federal government shutdown,” was the the Veterans and Military Boat Parade, scheduled for Nov. 8 as part of Fleet Week San Diego.
Alongside the boat parade, San Diego’s regular veterans parade was also canceled due to the shutdown.
The Honor Our Veterans Parade Committe said the decision was not made lightly and “we recognize the disappointment this may cause among our volunteers, supporters and civic leaders who had planned to walk alongside us in tribute to our nation’s heroes.”
Meanwhile, at the Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon, an annual Veterans Day event takes place, including a breakfast, Veterans of Foreign Wars ceremony and a flyover by the Oregon Air National Guard. This year, though, the flyover will not occur because of the ongoing government shutdown.
The Great Lakes National Cemetery in Oakland County, Mich., also announced on social media that it would have to cancel its Veterans Day ceremony this year.
“We’re saddened to share that this year’s Veterans Day Ceremony at Great Lakes National Cemetery has been canceled due to the ongoing government shutdown and lack of appropriated funds,” the national cemetery said in its post.
The cemetery will remain open for its regular hours, though, to allow visitors to come by and honor its veterans.
Although some events are still occurring as scheduled, they will be more limited, such as the Wyoming Valley Veterans Parade in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., on Nov. 9.
Organizers announced last week that there would be no active military present at the parade due to the government shutdown, but the parade committee is calling on veterans in the area to fill the void.
There are numerous other events that have been affected or canceled due to the indefinite government shutdown. Attendees are encouraged to reach out and confirm if they’re unsure whether an event near them is still happening.