President Donald Trump is getting the military parade he’s long wanted this year, as 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 the president’s birthday.
“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 event organizer’s website. “The parade will trace the Army’s evolution from the Revolutionary War through to the U.S. Army of Tomorrow.”
Here’s what to know about the parade’s route and when it takes place.
When and where is the military parade?
The military parade is slated for Saturday, June 14, in the heart of Washington, D.C., spanning six blocks and bisecting the National Mall.
Celebrations and associated events are set to take place throughout the day, starting with a fitness competition at 9:30 a.m. ET, and an assortment of military demonstrations, equipment displays and live music performances throughout the day. Visitors can expect kid zones, more than 50 vendor and experience booths, and meet-and-greats with “Army soldiers, NFL players, influencers and celebrities,” according to the U.S. Army event page.
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What does the parade commemorate?
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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Where does the Grand Military Parade start and end?
The parade will take place along Constitution Avenue NW, starting at 15th Street alongside the National Mall, near the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The procession will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, cutting through the mall between the Washington Monument and German-American Friendship Garden on one side and the long grassy expanse of President’s Park in front of the White House on the other. The parade will cross in front of Trump’s viewing stand on Constitution Avenue south of the White House at about 6 p.m.
It will continue in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial, passing by Constitution Gardens and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial before ending at 7:30 p.m. ET on Constitution Avenue NW and 23rd Street. A concert at the Ellipse is scheduled to start when the parade ends, and Army officials say a firework display will begin at 9:45 p.m. ET.
Contributing: George Petras and Janet Loehrke, 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: Trump military parade route; See map of June 14 festivities
