The well-lit 50-foot vessel also featured “FJB” in white lights, an apparent reference to “F--- Joe Biden,” the stadium chant that gave rise to the “Let’s go, Brandon” euphemism.

A member of the Yorktown Foundation’s board of directors, Walt Akers, apologized to the community and event sponsors Monday for what he called “a huge mistake.”

“We profoundly apologize for what happened, and we deeply regret that this happened at all,” Akers said. “And we’re going to take actions to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future.” (snip)

“It just breaks the spirit that this happened,” said York County resident Teri Hodson, who attended the event. “It was disheartening.”

Earlier that evening, Hodson said, she was among families with children at the bonfire, with people dressed up for the the holiday festivities “and I thought, how blessed am I?”

Those feelings ended when she saw the boat.

“That sentiment on that boat lit up in lights — F Joe Biden — was the antithesis of the Christmas spirit,” she said, adding that people had to explain to their children what the “Let’s Go Brandon” slogan meant.

The Yorktown Foundation stripped the boat of its “Best in Show” title hours later. Organizers declared the runner-up — a boat called “Peace on Earth” that featured singing angels in white — the rightful winner. (snip)

Parade organizers also have since posted an apology on their Facebook page, and listed preliminary steps they plan to take. The foundation also is sending a letter to its other underling organizations — the Celebrate Yorktown Committee, the Virginia Symphony in Yorktown, the Tall Ships Committee — to tell them in no uncertain terms that political messages aren’t permitted.