When President Donald Trump announced there would be a major military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14, my first reaction was: What? On Flag Day? He explained it was to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. That made more sense, especially when it was further pointed out that it coincided with his own 79th birthday.

Trump had long admired the pomp and spectacle of large military parades like France’s Bastille Day rollout. In his first term he proposed such a full-scale military parade for July 4, 2018. That proposal was abandoned when the D.C. government and the Army pushed back over the estimated high cost and potential damage tanks would do to the streets.

This time, those objections were overcome when the Army promised to lay heavy metal plates on the streets and pay for any damage incurred. Still, the Defense Department estimates the parade could cost up to $45 million.

Some 6,700 troops are being flown in from around the country to participate in the parade. The procession of over 150 vehicles will include 28 Abrams tanks weighing 140,000 pounds each. Fifty aircraft will be flying overhead along with a parachute jump by the Army’s Golden Knights team.

Wars and........

© The Hill