Tanks, helicopters, 19th-century uniforms, military orchestras, parachutists, and flyovers. And thousands of soldiers and war veterans, some in historical uniforms, in a carefully choreographed display along Constitution Avenue in Washington DC.
“The President plans a historic celebration... that will honor generations of selfless Americans who risked everything for our freedom,” reads a statement from the White House Domestic Policy Council.
“Small change”?
It is well known that President Donald Trump has long coveted a military parade. During his first term, he visited France, among other places, and was impressed by the military display at the national day celebrations there. But the plans never came to fruition, partly due to high costs and concerns that the capital's streets would not be able to handle tanks and other heavy military vehicles.
Now the situation is different. In the budget, $15 million has been allocated to repair any roads that may not be able to handle the heavy traffic.
Small change compared to the value of carrying out the (parade), Trump said recently to NBC.
We have the world's best robots. We have the world's best submarines. We have the world's best tanks. We have the world's best weapons. And we're going to celebrate it.
Trump in focus
On the agenda is a speech by the President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the US and who turns 79 on the same day. The fact that the event is held on the President's birthday has raised criticism – not least because neither the Navy nor the Marine Corps, which also turn 250 years old later this year, seem to be getting any parade.
Donald Trump is in the spotlight for all attention, the Army's birthday is just a practical excuse, claims Connecticut Senator, Democrat and Chairman of the Defense Committee Richard Blumenthal, according to USA Today.
The parade, which begins at 6:30 PM local time, features around 130 military vehicles, approximately 7,000 soldiers, eight military orchestras, and several dozen horses and mules, according to the media.
The US Army was founded as early as 1775, at the beginning of the War of Independence and a year before the American colonies declared their independence.
