Washington is gearing up for a huge military parade planned for June 14, marking the Army’s 250th anniversary and US President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The event will be unlike any other recent military celebration in the capital, with thousands of soldiers, tanks, and warplanes taking centre stage. The latest cost estimate for the event is $30 million, though officials expect this figure to rise to $45 million.According to new Army planning documents obtained by USA TODAY, the parade will feature thousands of soldiers who will be housed in government office buildings in downtown Washington, DC. Tanks, cannons and warplanesThe parade promises to be a grand display of military power. Tanks will rumble through the streets, with dozens of vehicles including 24 Abrams tanks, 24 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and four huge Paladin cannons. Above, vintage warplanes like the World War II-era B-17 bomber and P-51 Mustang fighter will fly over the National Mall, followed by modern helicopters including Apaches, Black Hawks, and Chinooks.7,500 soldiers The 7,500 soldiers arriving from all over the country will not stay in traditional barracks. Instead, they will sleep in office buildings such as the Department of Agriculture and a former government warehouse on 7th Street. According to a Defence Department official, “Bring your sleeping bags.” Soldiers will get two Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) plus one hot meal a day, and $50 per day in extra pay. Their shower schedules will be organised by “mayors” appointed to manage the housing facilities.This large event is meant to celebrate the Army’s long history, though some critics believe it also serves as a political display for Trump. The parade will highlight the Army’s journey from the Revolutionary War to the present, with soldiers wearing uniforms from different time periods.Kennedy, Bush among presidents who marked occasions with military paradesThe last time Washington saw a parade of this scale was on June 8, 1991, when thousands of troops marched to celebrate victory in the Gulf War. Back then, President George H.W. Bush’s birthday was just four days later. Other presidents, like Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, also had troops, tanks, and planes at their inaugurations.‘All about ego’However, the parade is sparking debate. Some lawmakers President Trump of using the event to boost his personal image. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, “This is Trump. This is all about his ego and making everything about him.” He added, “The only thing he’d be disappointed about is that he couldn’t fly his plane over the parade.” Trump is reportedly in talks to receive a Boeing 747 from Qatar, a deal that has raised questions about potential corruption.‘Greatest military in the world’Trump defends the parade as a celebration of “the greatest military in the world.” In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on May 4, he called the cost “peanuts compared to the value of doing it.”The parade will culminate on Constitution Avenue just south of the White House, where Trump will watch the troops march. He is also expected to preside over the enlistment and reenlistment of soldiers. The day will end with a grand fireworks display at dusk.
