What to expect at Trump's $45 million military parade in DC
Share this @internewscast.com

Hundreds of thousands of revelers are expected to flood the streets of Washington, DC, Saturday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army.

The extravagant parade, coinciding with President Trump’s 79th birthday, will showcase an impressive array of approximately 6,600 soldiers alongside hundreds of vehicles and aircraft, as announced by Army representatives.

“We’re going to have a great time; we are going to have a great celebration,” Trump said, touting the festival as a show of US military might.

While preparations for the event have been ongoing for nearly two years, the inclusion of military vehicles in the parade is a new addition to this year’s festivities. Army representatives informed CBS News that the branch is unlikely to make any references to Trump’s birthday during the parade.

The event’s financial requirement has been projected to fall between $25 million and $45 million, although the precise expenditures remain undisclosed.

Although the event will align with Trump’s birthday, the timing is just a coincidence.

The Second Continental Congress voted to create the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, after battles against the British in Concord and Lexington, naming George Washington commander-in-chief the next day.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told the House Armed Services Committee that the parade represents an “amazing opportunity” to tell the story about the Army, and could even pay recruitment dividends.

“I believe very specifically that telling that story will directly lead to a recruiting boom that will fill up our pipeline for the coming years,” Driscoll said.

The festival will kick off on the National Mall at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, running until 6 p.m. The military parade will start at 6:30 p.m., starting at 23rd Street NW along Constitution Avenue to 15th Street NW, concluding around 7:30 p.m. Fox News will be airing special coverage of the parade from 6-10 p.m. ET; if you don’t have cable, you can watch for free with a five-day trial of DIRECTV.

A fireworks display on the mall is scheduled to follow the parade around 9:45 p.m.

The parade will be the first such cavalcade since the end of the Gulf War in 1991, during which around 200,000 people gathered on the National Mall to watch some 8,000 service members march in the National Victory parade.

Because the massive equipment — some, like the M1A1 Abrams tank weighing upwards of 60 tons — wasn’t designed to roll down paved city streets, the Army has been making special preparations to minimize damage to DC roadways.

Leading up to the parade, the Army has been placing one-inch-thick steel plates, ranging in size from 4-by-8 feet to 8-by-20 feet, at points on the route where the heavier vehicles will be making turns.

The Army has pledged to pay for the repairs if any streets are damaged, which could add $16 million to the price of the festival, according to NBC News.

US Army Col. Jesse Curry, who heads the Office of the Chief of Engineers, told reporters Monday during a security briefing that the vehicles will also be equipped with rubber track pads to further mitigate damage, noting that they will be traveling slowly.

The parade will serve as a living history lesson, spanning every era of the Army from the Revolutionary War to today — and even the future — as thousands of soldiers will be decked out in era-appropriate uniforms and gear.

Front and center at the parade will be a tribute to the American Revolution, featuring horse-mounted Dragoon troops outfitted with the uniforms and weapons from that time.

Next up will be the Civil War, featuring 12 Texas steeds leading the march and a pair of mules pulling a wagon to symbolize the Western Expansion that followed the conflict, which included scores of battles with Native Americans.

World War I and World War II will be represented with a classic Renault Tank, the famous armored vehicle used by the Allies, as well as a vintage 1918 Dodge Touring Car.

The World War II section of the parade will be the biggest, featuring multiple American trucks and jeeps used in the war and supplied to US allies, including the Chevrolet G7117 and Ford GPW.

This section is also when the aerial events start, with the B-25 Mitchell bomber, C-47 Skytrain transport, and P-51 Mustang fighter plane set to fly over DC.

Cold War-era conflicts like the Korean and Vietnam Wars will see the aircraft procession continue with the OH-6 Cayuse, AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 Iroquois helicopters.

The next section will start with the iconic M2 Bradley fighting armored vehicle deployed during the Gulf War in the early 1990s.

Along with the armored vehicle, the troops will also show off the powerful Paladin and M1A1 Abrams tanks, and the M119 Howitzer.

Vehicles from the War on Terror will also be featured, including the modern US Stryker armored vehicle, which became a staple of America’s war in the Middle East.

The final section includes a roundup of the American equipment from previous wars that are still used today, along with new additions like the M777 Howitzer that was used in Afghanistan.

The parade is not without controversy — the cost has come under scrutiny by members of Congress, particularly as the Trump administration has made cutting wasteful government spending a top priority.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Cause of death released for chess grandmaster who died at age 29

Tragic Loss: Chess Grandmaster Passes at 29, Cause of Death Revealed

Over the past few years, Daniel Naroditsky expanded his fanbase significantly through…
Police Commissioner Tisch meets with right-wing radio host and Mamdani critic Sid Rosenberg

Police Commissioner Tisch Engages in Dialogue with Right-Wing Radio Host and Mamdani Critic Sid Rosenberg

On Tuesday evening, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch sat down for dinner with…
U.S. Officials Estimate 200 Islamic State Fighters Escaped from Syrian Prison

U.S. Concerns Spike as 200 ISIS Fighters Break Free from Syrian Detention

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to Reuters on Tuesday, reported that around…
Watch: Bessent Eviscerates Newsom in Savage Davos Take-Down – 'Patrick Bateman Meets Sparkle Beach Ken'

Watch: Bessent Critiques Newsom in a Striking Davos Address – 'Patrick Bateman Meets Sparkle Beach Ken'

As the world’s power brokers converge in Davos, Switzerland, the atmosphere is…
Two students found dead in vehicle at university parking lot in Ohio

Tragic Discovery: Two Students Found Deceased in Ohio University Parking Lot

Two students were tragically discovered deceased inside a car at Franciscan University,…
Public hearing on proposed data center at former Lockformer Company site on Ogden Avenue in Lisle postponed due to large crowds

Overwhelming Turnout Delays Public Hearing on Ogden Avenue’s Proposed Data Center in Lisle

In Lisle, Illinois, plans for a new data center are underway, just…
4-year-old boy left in cold after being dropped off by school bus driver on South Side, CPS parent Rashia Pickett says

Chicago School Bus Mishap: 4-Year-Old Left Stranded in Cold on South Side, Claims Concerned Parent

A Chicago mother is voicing her concerns after a distressing incident involving…
19-year-old charged with attempted murder of coworker at Oceanway McDonald's

Teenager Faces Serious Charges After Incident at Oceanway McDonald’s

In a troubling incident at a McDonald’s on N. Main Street, Jacksonville,…
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes requests President Donald Trump to commute her prison sentence, per US Department of Justice

Elizabeth Holmes’ Bold Move: Appeals to Trump for Sentence Commutation in Theranos Scandal

SAN FRANCISCO — Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos who fell…
NYPD cop arrested for perjury, planting evidence in Queens gun case

Queens Gun Case Unravels: NYPD Officer Faces Arrest for Perjury and Evidence Tampering

In a startling revelation, an NYPD officer has been arrested for perjury…
Over 300,000 pounds of catfish illegally harvested in Kentucky, 25 people facing charges

Kentucky Cracks Down on Illegal Catfish Harvest: 300,000 Pounds Seized, 25 Charged

In a significant crackdown on illegal fishing activities, the Kentucky Department of…
Border Patrol chief targeted in alleged murder-for-hire plot focused on Snapchat messages

Border Patrol Chief Allegedly Targeted in Snapchat-Based Murder-for-Hire Scheme

A federal jury is currently deliberating on a case involving a Chicago…