Despite being barred at the last minute by Reynolds Administration officials from the Veterans’ Parade at the Iowa State Fair, the Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus will be at the State Fair on Monday at 11:00 AM to show support for their fellow service members. They will gather at the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Fair booth in the Varied Industries building immediately after.

Until Friday afternoon, the Veterans’ Caucus was planning on marching in the Veterans’ Parade at the State Fair, as they have done many times over the years including in 2015 under Governor Branstad.

They followed the correct application procedure, their application was approved, and they had already received their tickets and parking passes to participate.

Veterans’ Caucus leadership received a call from a Reynolds Administration official involved with the Parade on Friday informing them that they were barred from participating because they were a political organization. When asked to produce the written rules or record of a vote by the Board governing the Parade banning Veterans’ political groups, the official could produce neither. The official is not on the Iowa State Fair Board.

“Many Veterans choose to get involved in the Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus because we see it as a way to shape the nation we fought to protect. Our motto says that this is our second call to duty,” said Iowa Democratic Party Veterans’ Caucus Chair Ron Healey. “By disinviting our veterans from a parade they have marched in for years, the Reynolds Administration is telling Democratic veterans that their service is worth less than others’ for purely partisan reasons.”

“This follows the Reynolds Administration’s pattern of retaliation against Iowans for politically disagreeing with the governor, but it is absolutely shocking that it would extend to our nation’s Veterans,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price.

WHO: Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus

WHERE: Iowa State Fair Veterans’ Parade and Iowa Democratic Party Booth in Varied Industries Building

WHEN: August 13th at 11:00 AM

RSVP: Tess Seger, tseger@iowademocrats.org, (503) 473 – 7624

ABOUT THE IDVC:
The Iowa Democratic Veterans’ Caucus is the recognized voice for veterans and their families within the Iowa Democratic Party and IDVC acts as the voice of Democrats in the Veterans’ community by helping to craft the IDP legislative and policy agenda for issues affecting Veterans, their families and their communities.

Our Second Call To Duty