Trump honored troopers’ sacrifice and valor in remarks after a parade that includes 1000’s of troopers, dozens of tanks, and flyovers.
WASHINGTON—Troopers and tanks had 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 1000’s of troopers, dozens of tanks, and flyovers from planes and helicopters—all representing durations of the Military’s historical past from the Revolutionary Struggle to the current day.
The parade, which began early because of extreme climate forecast later within the night, lasted practically two hours. The rain finally held out in the course of the celebration. The parade concluded with Trump administering the oath of enlistment to new and re-enlisting troopers
“The Military retains us free,” Trump, whose birthday can be June 14, mentioned in a speech from the viewing stand. “You make us robust, and tonight, you will have made all Individuals very proud.”
“Watching this magnificent show, our souls are full of gratitude for each era of warriors who’ve worn the uniform all the best way again to the start,” he mentioned.
Lee Greenwood then carried out “I’m Proud to Be an American” earlier than a fireworks show concluded the evening.
The festivities had been held as tens of 1000’s 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 By the Eras
About 6,600 troopers marched within the parade, sporting uniforms and presenting gear reflecting the distinct conflicts and durations of the Military’s historical past, beginning with the Revolutionary Struggle and together with World Struggle 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 Struggle I.
The 150 troopers in World Struggle I-era Military fatigues come from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a part of the Military’s 82nd Airborne Division—referred to as the “All American Division.”
Additionally representing World Struggle I used to be the forty second Infantry Division, in any other case referred to as “The Rainbow Division.” The title is predicated on a remark from then-Col. Douglas MacArthur that the hometowns of troopers within the division “stretched throughout America coast-to-coast like a rainbow.”
It was fashioned in 1917 with Nationwide Guardsmen from 26 states. The unit nonetheless wears a purple, yellow, and blue patch in commemoration of its origins.
A number of plane—together with World Struggle II-era planes and Vietnam-era helicopters—did flyovers over the parade route. The Military Golden Knights parachute crew sailed via the sky, dropping close to the Ellipse.
Tanks, together with the World Struggle II-era Sherman tank and the Gulf Struggle-era M1-Abrams tank, additionally rolled via the streets of Washington.
John Griffith, a U.S. Military veteran of the one 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 right here to assist those that are at the moment serving and people who have gone earlier than me. It offers me a chance to rejoice that and to rejoice the Military’s birthday,” Griffith informed The Epoch Instances.
The soundtrack for the parade included normal navy marches interspersed with some 70s and 80s rock anthems with out lyrics.
Folks of all ages may very well be seen sporting Military t-shirts and hats, with veterans’ hats figuring out the models through which they served and details about their fight deployments.
Some on the occasion wore “Make America Nice Once more” 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 centesimal anniversary of the top of World Struggle I with a navy parade, however the thought fell via as value estimates for the occasion rose as excessive as $92 million.
The Military has estimated its Saturday occasion may value $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 steered 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 concentrating on unlawful immigrants in Los Angeles. In latest days, these protests have begun to unfold throughout the nation.
A coalition of activist teams calling itself “No Kings” organized a sequence of protests throughout the nation on Saturday to counterprogram the parade.
The group didn’t manage any demonstrations within the capital, however dozens of protesters had been seen strolling among the many 1000’s 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, had 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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