The United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of its Army with an elaborate military parade in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, June 14. The event coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. It will begin at 6:30 pm ET (4:00 am IST) along Constitution Avenue NW and conclude by 7:30 pm ET. A fireworks display is scheduled for 9:45 pm ET.
Thousands of Troops, Vehicles, and Aircraft to Participate
The parade will feature 6,600 marching soldiers, 150 military vehicles, and 50 aircraft. Highlights include Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and Strykers. Historical military gear will also be on display, such as a World War I-era Renault tank and a World War II-era M4 Sherman.
Helicopters like CH-47 Chinooks, UH-60 Black Hawks, and Hueys will fly overhead alongside the P-51 Mustang and Douglas C-47 transport aircraft.
“Attendees will experience 250 years of Army heritage through historical US Army personnel reenactors, period-accurate equipment, vehicles, impressive flyovers, and military bands participating in this landmark event,” America250 said in a press release.
Golden Knights to Perform Airborne Stunt and Honor Trump
Finally, the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute team will close the parade with a dramatic jump, presenting a flag to the President. While the Army states that Trump’s birthday won’t be formally acknowledged, reports suggest that he will receive this symbolic gesture.
Additionally, President Trump, U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are among the expected VIPs. As per PBS News, Trump will stand alongside Army veteran and MMA fighter Tim Kennedy during the celebration.
Cost and Purpose of the Parade
The event will cost the Army an estimated $45 million. Notably, of that amount, $16 million has been specifically allocated to repairing Washington streets impacted by heavy military equipment. Despite criticism over the cost, Trump defended the expenditure in an NBC interview, calling it “peanuts compared to the value of doing it.”
“We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we’re going to celebrate it,” Trump said.
Army Secretary Driscoll also noted that the event serves a larger purpose. “Our marketing budget we would spend to recruit those soldiers… this investment will directly lead to a good, measurable, quantitative outcome,” he said.
Festivals and Celebrations to Complement the Parade
In addition to the parade, the Army has organized a birthday festival on the National Mall. These events have been in planning for nearly two years, with the parade added earlier this year as part of the celebration.
