AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Mayor Steve Adler says he won't march in this weekend's Veterans Day Parade.

This will be the first time since he was sworn in as mayor three years ago that he's forgone the annual parade down Congress Avenue.

The parade is set to take place at around 9:30 a.m. 

In an email, Adler said he will honor veterans on Veteran's Day weekend by volunteering at the Central Texas Food Bank, which he said serves a large number of the local veteran community.

The Veterans Day Parade Committee voted unanimously to ban the widely recognized Confederate battle flag. However the organization will still allow two Confederate groups marching in Saturday's parade to fly the national flag of the Confederacy.

"I think Confederate flags are the kind of things we should all know about and not forget. We should be seeing those in classrooms and museums and not cheering them in parades,” Adler said.

He says one in four veterans receive help from the food bank.

He will also attend the Red White and Blues Concert Friday night.

Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody fired back on Twitter saying, "Shame on you Mayor Adler! As a veteran, I'm offended you would allow a small group to dictate the true meaning of the intent of the parade. Honor the majority of those who served our great country by marching. Please reconsider!"