Trump honored troopers’ sacrifice and valor in remarks after a parade that includes hundreds of troopers, dozens of tanks, and flyovers.
WASHINGTON—Troopers and tanks have been on show in a parade celebrating the Military’s 250th anniversary within the nation’s capital on June 14.
President Donald Trump, First Woman Melania Trump, Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth, and different U.S. officers watched the parade, which featured hundreds of troopers, dozens of tanks, and flyovers from planes and helicopters—all representing intervals of the Military’s historical past from the Revolutionary Conflict to the current day.
The parade, which began early because of extreme climate forecast later within the night, lasted almost two hours. The rain finally held out through the celebration. The parade concluded with Trump administering the oath of enlistment to new and re-enlisting troopers
“The Army keeps us free,” Trump, whose birthday can also be June 14, mentioned in a speech from the viewing stand. “You make us strong, and tonight, you have made all Americans very proud.”
“Watching this magnificent display, our souls are filled with gratitude for every generation of warriors who have worn the uniform all the way back to the beginning,” he mentioned.
Lee Greenwood then carried out “I’m Proud to Be an American” earlier than a fireworks show concluded the night time.
The festivities have been held as tens of hundreds of individuals have been rallying in different cities throughout the nation in “No Kings” protests in opposition to the Trump administration’s insurance policies.
Hundreds of spectators lined the Nationwide Mall to see the parade.
Parade Sections Honor Military Via the Eras
About 6,600 troopers marched within the parade, sporting uniforms and presenting gear reflecting the distinct conflicts and intervals of the Military’s historical past, beginning with the Revolutionary Conflict and together with World Conflict II, Vietnam, and persevering with as much as the current day.
The parade additionally featured round 150 navy autos, together with dozens of tanks and different heavy armored autos.
One of many first teams within the parade commemorated the U.S. Military’s position in World Conflict I.
The 150 troopers in World Conflict I-era Military fatigues come from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a part of the Military’s 82nd Airborne Division—generally known as the “All American Division.”
Additionally representing World Conflict I used to be the forty second Infantry Division, in any other case generally known as “The Rainbow Division.” The identify is predicated on a remark from then-Col. Douglas MacArthur that the hometowns of troopers within the division “stretched across America coast-to-coast like a rainbow.”
It was shaped in 1917 with Nationwide Guardsmen from 26 states. The unit nonetheless wears a crimson, yellow, and blue patch in commemoration of its origins.
A number of plane—together with World Conflict II-era planes and Vietnam-era helicopters—did flyovers over the parade route. The Military Golden Knights parachute group sailed by the sky, dropping close to the Ellipse.
Tanks, together with the World Conflict II-era Sherman tank and the Gulf Conflict-era M1-Abrams tank, additionally rolled by the streets of Washington.
John Griffith, a U.S. Military veteran of the a hundred and first Airborne Division who served two excursions, together with deployments in Korea, mentioned the celebration parade meant rather a lot to him.
“I’m here to support those who are currently serving and those who have gone before me. It gives me an opportunity to celebrate that and to celebrate the Army’s birthday,” Griffith instructed The Epoch Instances.
The soundtrack for the parade included normal navy marches interspersed with some 70s and 80s rock anthems with out lyrics.
Individuals of all ages could possibly be seen sporting Military t-shirts and hats, with veterans’ hats figuring out the models during which they served and details about their fight deployments.
Some on the occasion wore “Make America Great Again” and different Trump-themed merchandise.
The Military started the day with a birthday wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery.
Whereas the parade was billed as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Military’s formation on June 14, 1775, the occasion additionally coincides with Flag Day.
The president sought a navy parade throughout his first time period however confronted criticisms. In 2018, a plan emerged to commemorate Veterans Day and the one hundredth anniversary of the tip of World Conflict I with a navy parade, however the thought fell by as price estimates for the occasion rose as excessive as $92 million.
The Military has estimated its Saturday occasion may price $25 million to $45 million.
Whereas not as expensive because the scrapped 2018 plan, this occasion nonetheless had its skeptics. Democrats questioned the worth tag and recommended that the spectacle was merely meant as a self-aggrandizing occasion for the president’s birthday.
‘No Kings’ Protests
This parade comes amid a rising protest motion that started final week in opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations focusing on unlawful immigrants in Los Angeles. In current days, these protests have begun to unfold throughout the nation.
A coalition of activist teams calling itself “No Kings” organized a collection of protests throughout the nation on Saturday to counterprogram the parade.
The group didn’t set up any demonstrations within the capital, however dozens of protesters have been seen strolling among the many hundreds of spectators in line for the parade on Structure Avenue.
Across the outskirts of Washington in Northern Virginia and Maryland, protesters lined busy thoroughfares and freeway overpasses.
In Los Angeles, which was rocked by riots in opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations final week, police fired flash bangs and canisters of tear fuel to disperse protesters.
Earlier on June 14, information broke that Minnesota’s former Home Speaker Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband, Mark, had been killed of their Brookland Park residence by an assailant posing as a police officer.
One other Democrat, Sen. John Hoffman, and his spouse Yvette, have been injured in one other assault in Champlin, Minnesota.
Police have recognized the suspect, and a statewide manhunt is in progress.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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