The U.S. Army plans to mark its 250th anniversary with a pomp-filled procession through the streets of the nation’s capital, a date coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
The parade, which will feature Army equipment, flyovers, musical performances and thousands of soldiers in uniforms from the past and the present, caps off a week of programming designed to celebrate the country’s military might. Trump attempted to hold a military parade in his first term to commemorate the centennial of World War I, but it was abandoned after pushback over cost and logistics from D.C. officials.
Inside the military parade: Tanks, cannons and soldiers sleeping in DC offices
The day-long celebration and parade is expected to be a massive military spectacle and unofficial birthday party. The parade procession is slated to take place on Constitution Avenue near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., specifically between 15th Street and 23rd Street on Constitution Avenue NW.
“The event is designed not only to showcase the Army’s modern capabilities but also to inspire a new generation to embrace the spirit of service, resilience, and leadership that defines the United States,” according to a May 21 statement on the event organizer’s website. “The parade will trace the Army’s evolution from the Revolutionary War through to the U.S. Army of Tomorrow.”
Graphic: See where will the DC parade will start and end
What does the parade celebrate?
Though the parade is on the same day as the president’s 79th birthday, event organizers and administration officials say it is solely to celebrate the U.S. Army.
Vince Haley, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said that Trump is planning “an historic celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday.”
“As one of the first events of the year-long celebration of our 250th anniversary, this commemorative parade will be a fitting tribute to the service, sacrifice, and selflessness of the brave men and women who have worn the uniform and devoted their lives to defending the greatest experiment in liberty known to man,” Haley said, not mentioning the president’s birthday in the statement.
What date is the June 14 parade commemorating?
On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress voted to establish the Continental Army, organizers say, marking the creation of America’s first national military force more than a year before the Declaration of Independence.
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Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks celebrating 250 years of the U.S. Army, organizers say, with remarks and other celebration events expected to focus on various achievements and legacies of the branch. However, the Navy, which also celebrates its 250th anniversary in October, has no plans for a similar parade, a spokesperson told USA TODAY, neither does the Marine Corps for its 250th in November.
Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Tom Vanden Brook and Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY.
Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why will there be a military parade on June 14?
