The Veterans of Foreign Wars mistakenly announced the death of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Friday.
“VFW Remembers Sen. John McCain,” said the subject line of an email containing a press release announcing the senator’s death.
Some fields were left incomplete, indicating that the press release was a pre-prepared template.
“The 1.7 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Auxiliary are saluting the life of one of their own, U.S. Sen. John S. McCain III, who died (today/yesterday) after battling brain cancer,” the press release said.
McCain is a lifetime member of the VFW in Arizona.
The release was drafted with the intent to be sent out after the passing of McCain, who was diagnosed last year with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
VFW director later apologized for the mistake in a statement to the Washington Times.
“It was a mistake, and for that I apologize to all recipients and most especially to the McCain family,” said Joe Davis, VFW director of communications.
