The U.S. Army is preparing detailed plans for a large-scale military parade on June 14, coinciding with both its 250th anniversary celebration and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
The internal documents, dated April 29 and 30, outline a spectacle involving more than 6,600 service members, at least 150 military vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven marching bands, and potentially thousands of civilian participants. While the plans are still under review and have not been publicly released, they reflect the Army’s latest vision for a high-profile national event on the National Mall that could double as a fulfilment of Trump’s long-standing call for a military parade in the capital.
A final decision has not been made, and White House approval is still pending. Army spokesman Steve Warren confirmed on May 1 that planning is ongoing, but no parade has been formally approved.
“We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us. We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that,” Army Spokesman Col. Dave Butler said.
Officials familiar with the planning said the parade concept, initially not part of the anniversary event, has been under active discussion in recent weeks. If approved, roughly 6,300 of the service members would march in the parade, while others would support logistics and coordination. The proposed parade would be designated a National Special Security Event, a classification already requested by the National Park Service and currently under review.
In addition to military hardware and personnel, the proposal includes an evening concert and a fireworks show following the parade.
While no cost estimates are included in the documents, such a large-scale operation is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars — a major reason a similar parade proposed by Trump during his first presidency was scrapped in 2018. That plan, inspired by France’s Bastille Day parade, was shelved amid backlash over a projected $92 million price tag and concerns from city officials about the damage that heavy vehicles like tanks could cause to Washington’s infrastructure.
By Sabina Mammadli
Source: caliber.az
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