Plans For Military Parade On Trump’s Birthday Include 6,600 Soldiers, 150 Military Vehicles & 7 Bands

A military parade on Donald Trump’s birthday will include more than 6,600 soldiers and a minimum of 150 military vehicles.

In early April, Trump stated that he wanted a military parade on his birthday, June 14, in Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration is planning a parade that would stretch nearly four miles from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River, and into Washington, D.C.

The documents include the Army’s plans to assemble troops and equipment from 11 corps and divisions across America.

Some armored vehicles and artillery units being considered include tank battalions, Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers and infantry vehicles.

The parade would include a parachute jump by the Army’s Golden Knights, historical reenactors and veterans’ groups.

The Army identified some challenges, such as housing for incoming troops and massive security requirements for transporting and displaying equipment.

Even though the Army’s birthday celebration has been in development for over a year, the parade component was added recently, provoking concerns about the possible costs, likely tens of millions, and stress on city infrastructure.

“We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,” Col. Dave Butler told the AP. “We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.”

“As we prepare for our future, we also reflect on our past,” Butler added. “‘This we’ll defend’ was first used as a battle cry by the Continental Army. Today, it reminds us that our Army’s purpose is clear: to fight and win the nation’s wars. We remain committed to honing our warfighting skills, enforcing standards and discipline, and living the values that have defined our Army culture for the past 250 years.”

In 2018, Trump first mentioned the concept of a grand parade after the president attended France’s Bastille Day parade in the summer of 2017.

On August 16, 2018, the Defense Department announced that Trump’s parade would cost $92 million and was promptly shelved.