Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s hometown of Hailey, Idaho has canceled its plans to welcome home the soldier who’d been held captive by the Taliban for five years.

Hailey, Idaho Cancels Boew Bergdahl Homecoming

"Bergdahl's hometown in Idaho has canceled plans for a celebration, city administrator says," reporter Mark Felsenthal tweeted Wednesday afternoon.

Bergdahl's home town in Idaho has canceled plans for a celebration, city administrator says

— Mark Felsenthal (@markfelsenthal) June 4, 2014

During Bergdahl’s captivity, the small town of Hailey staged rallies and hung yellow ribbons for their neighbor who was in the hands of Afghan militants. Marking the anniversary of his disappearance from his platoon and capture by the Taliban, the town held an annual “Bring Bowe Back” event. This year’s was to take place on June 28 and was renamed “Bowe Is Back” after it was revealed over the weekend that he’d been freed in exchange for five Guantanamo detainees.

Bergdahl's Hometown Celebrated His Freedom

"It's very exciting," Sherry Horton, a friend and former roommate of Bergdahl, told CNN about finding out the soldier had been relesased. "We're all still kind of walking around on clouds. We're all just waiting to get eyes on him. That's going to be a topper."

Sue Martin, who owns the local coffee shop Bergdahl once worked at, shared a similar sentiment. "It's cheerful," Martin told ABC News of the mood in town. "The people coming in express their relief for the family and Bowe. Some even end up crying. It's a huge sense of relief."

Bergdahl’s homecoming has even been heavily anticipated by those who didn't know him before he went to Afghanistan, and also by people outside the small Idaho town. “Everybody’s talking about it – people who don’t even live here. It’s crazy,” 22-year-old Adam Marks told the Los Angeles Times. “I never knew the guy, but I know a lot of people who did. And they are just so excited.”

Why Did Hailey Cancel Homecoming?

While Hailey has shown nothing but outward enthusiasm for Bergdahl’s freedom, there’s been ample criticism for the circumstances surrounding the hostage trade. A major issue for those questioning the captive swap is the possibility that Bergdahl deserted his platoon – a decision that may have led to the deaths of fellow soldiers. According to Felsenthal, the reason Hailey is canceling the homecoming isn’t pressure from Bergdahl’s detractors, rather because the town feels it’s “unable to safely manage the number of people expected."

Hailey, Idaho called off 6/28 event at request of organizers because town "unable to safely manage the number of people expected."

— Mark Felsenthal (@markfelsenthal) June 4, 2014

Martin, summing up the feelings of the people of Hailey, has said politics isn’t on their minds. “This has been a very personal five years for this town,” she told the LA Times. “It’s not political for us. But we understand that it is political for some people.”