I am looking forward to honoring veterans this Veterans Day weekend by helping out however I can be helpful at the Central Texas Food Bank, which serves a large number of our local veteran community.

I will not be marching in the Congress Avenue parade because that parade will include groups carrying the Confederate flag. Veterans Day should only be about honoring United States Military Veterans. Symbols of racism, Civil War secession, and white supremacy should not be forgotten or erased, but they need to be remembered and studied in museums and classrooms not cheered and applauded in parades.

I have no control over the policies of the independent parade organizers. I can only control what I do.

I understand the parade committee will allow the carrying of the official Confederate flag and not the battle flag that is the more widely seen symbol of racism. I appreciate that step in the right direction, but for me it does not go far enough. The articles of secession adopted by the Texas Legislature were based in significant part on support for slavery. We must remember, but not celebrate, the Confederacy which had as its “corner-stone,” according to its Vice President Stephens “…that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery – subordination to the superior race – is his natural and normal condition.” The flag in the parade is a symbol of that moment. We should all know, but not celebrate, that flag.

I’m going to celebrate Veterans Day this year with service in honor of United States veterans. That will be the focus my attention. It’s important that we serve those who served our country.

To see more about how Mayor Adler will be serving veterans this weekend — and you can, too — click here.