Valley veterans drop post's Cinco de Mayo celebration

APACHE JUNCTION, AZ - While most people just celebrated the the 4th of July weekend, it's the 5th of May getting the attention of some Valley veterans.

"I was hurt by it," said Harry Robert Warren.

On his birthday on Monday, 86-year-old Warren relaxes with a good read but most days you can find him at the American Legion Post 27 in Apache Junction.

"It's a retaliation," Warren said.

But now he's upset by a surprise move by other members of the post.

"A very joyous yes to this motion and I said nay,"  Warren said.

A 25 to one vote to stop the post's Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Warren was the only vote to keep it.

"And he said 'O.K. from now on Cinco de Mayo will not be celebrated by this post,'" Warren said.

A move Warren thinks is racially motivated.

"It brings animosity between the different races," he said.

He also feels it's the wrong way to fight back against the immigration law protests.

"All this stuff is separating us from Latinos," Warren said.

He hopes when the winter visitors come back, there can be a new vote to overturn the new policy.

ABC15 attempted to contact the commander of the post and other members but we were escorted off of the property.