A $45 million military parade in Washington, D.C., featuring tanks, vintage aircraft, and 7,500 troops, will mark the Army’s 250th anniversary on June 14.
The military parade to mark the United States Army’s 250-year anniversary could see as many as two dozen M1 Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) rolling through the streets of Washington, D.C., while the price tag could climb to as high as $45 million.
President Donald Trump, whose seventy-ninth birthday also happens to be on June 14, the scheduled day of the event, had previously called for a grand military parade during his first term in office after his 2017 trip to France, where he reviewed the country’s military parade on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris.
The effort to hold a July Fourth celebration in Washington in 2019 was scrapped only after the estimates topped $90 million. By contrast, the current estimate of $30 million to $45 million may seem like a bargain, but the latest reports suggest it will still be a large affair.
However, according to Reuters, the “latest estimates exclude costs the city of Washington would have to bear, like trash cleanup or road repairs for damage from the heavy tanks.”
As previously reported, the United States has a long history of military parades, including multiple in 1991 to mark the U.S. victory in the Gulf War. The parade in Washington occurred four days before the birthday of then-President George H.W. Bush.
For the 7,500 soldiers marching in the parade, it might not be a deployment to a warzone, but it can’t be described as a picnic either. In addition to having to look all “spit and polish,” the troops will arrive days in advance, USA Today reported, citing Pentagon officials who spoke on background.
“They will be housed in the Department of Agriculture building and a former government warehouse owned by the General Services Administration on 7th Street. Their chow will consist of two MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and one hot meal daily. They’ll also receive $50 per day in extra pay,” the paper noted, adding that they will likely need to bring their sleeping bags, while “their shower schedule will be set by mayors appointed to oversee housing at the buildings.”
The Military Parade Faces Criticism from Democrats
Though some Democratic lawmakers have criticized the parade, suggesting it mirrors events like those in Russia, China, and North Korea, it is meant to honor the U.S. Army’s heritage from the Revolutionary War to the present.
There will be soldiers in period uniforms, which have added new challenges for the organizers.
“Some periods have proved harder to find period dress from than others; the Army is struggling to outfit soldiers in uniforms from the War of 1812 and the Spanish-American War,” USA Today added.
Current plans also call for around 120 vehicles to roll through the nation’s capital, including the two dozen M1 Abrams and another two dozen M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs).
In the skies overhead, a World War II-era B-17 Flying Fortress and P-51 Mustang fighter will fly over the National Mall, along with fifty Apache, Black Hawk, and Chinook helicopters.
There have been concerns about what the parade could mean for D.C.’s streets, and how the city will deal with the MBTs, especially as the vehicles infamously damaged Constitution Avenue, leaving deep ruts on the asphalt. The M1 Abrams deployed during the 1991 Gulf War weighed around 68 tons, while the current M1A2 models weigh nearly eighty tons due to additional armor, sensors, and heavier weapons systems.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in April that the administration contacted the city about holding a parade on June 14. Bowser has expressed concerns that the city’s streets could be damaged.
“If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied by many millions of dollars to repair the roads,” she told reporters, per the PBS News Hour.
The parade will conclude with a fireworks display at dusk.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Karolis Kavolelis.
