To our Escondido and Valley Center communities,

 

It is with heavy hearts that we announce Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1513 and its Auxiliary’s withdrawal as organizers and sponsors for the Veterans Day Parade on November 11th 2019.

 

We have conveyed to the Honorable Mayor Paul McNamara and the City of Escondido employees our utmost respect and appreciation for giving us the opportunity to work with them on this event for our veterans and the community.

 

This difficult decision was made as a Post and Auxiliary collectively with our best interests at heart. All members were given the opportunity to express their concerns, opinions and decisions at our monthly meeting. Our members hold malice towards no one. Our mission as an organization is to support our veterans, their families and the community we live in by fostering good will and support to all.

 

We wish the City, the parade’s organizers, and sponsors success in this endeavor and express our gratitude as veterans for the honor given us. We look forward to the celebration.

 

Our annual ceremony at Grape Day Park in front of the Wall of Courage will still take place on November 11th at 11:00 a.m. as it has in year’s past. We are also working with our community, including Escondido’s Municipal Art Gallery, VetArt, and other organizations to create events that celebrate veterans on Saturday, November 9. We’ll announce our events soon.

 

The veterans and families of VFW Post 1513 and Auxiliary thank you for your continued love and support! We hope to see you at all the Veterans Day events!