Report: Veterans Inaugural Ball Canceled as Organizer Disappears

The Veterans Inaugural ball, which was supposed to be held Tuesday night at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, D.C., has been canceled after the organizer failed to meet his financial obligations to the host site.

The Navy Times reported Monday that promoter Dante Hayes of the nonprofit Congressional Education Foundation for Public Policy, is missing, and the Web site where people could buy the $385 ticket for the event is not operating.

Performance artist Michael Israel, who had been scheduled to appear at the ball, told the military newspaper that he was informed by the hotel that the event had been canceled. He said he hasn't been able to reach Hayes for an explanation.

Israel said the charity had checked out when he did an investigation of it, but a representative of a veterans' group said some kind of problem with online ticket sales is now being investigated.

Click here to read the Navy Times article.