The U.S. Army is celebrating its 250th birthday with a week of events in the Washington, D.C., area, culminating in a major festival and military parade on Saturday, June 14. Federal and local officials are implementing extensive security measures and traffic closures in preparation for the celebration, which coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
The theme for the week-long commemoration is “This we’ll defend,” a battle cry first used by the Continental Army.
What events is the Army planning?
The Army is hosting events from June 7 to 14 to mark its anniversary. The celebration began with the opening of a new Revolutionary War exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Army. Other events include a Twilight Tattoo military performance at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, an Army birthday run, and an “Army Day” with the Washington Nationals baseball team. On the morning of June 14, the Army will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
What can people expect at the main parade and festival?
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Security for the Army’s 250th birthday parade in Washington, D.C., includes the installation of 18.5 miles of steel fencing.
The main celebration on Saturday, June 14, includes a free festival on the National Mall and a large evening military parade. The festival begins at 11 a.m. and offers opportunities to interact with soldiers, see military equipment displays, and watch demonstrations.
The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. and will feature 6,600 soldiers in historic and modern uniforms, military vehicles, and aircraft flyovers. The day will conclude with an enlistment ceremony, a parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights, and a fireworks display.
How is Washington, D.C., preparing for the celebration?
The Secret Service is coordinating with multiple agencies for the National Special Security Event. Officials anticipate hundreds of thousands of attendees and will deploy thousands of police officers and federal agents.
Security measures include 18.5 miles of steel fencing, 175 magnetometers at checkpoints, and the use of security drones. Officials do not expect protests similar to the recent immigration enforcement demonstrations in Los Angeles. However, the Secret Service is monitoring nine possible demonstrations.
U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool told a press briefing on Monday, June 9, that if any protests turn violent, his agency will respond swiftly.
U.S. Park Police Chief Jessica Taylor, whose agency oversees protest permits, said that while several applications are pending, none have raised “any significant concerns.”
Why are ‘No Kings’ protests planned nationwide but not in Washington?
Coinciding with the parade, dozens of groups have organized more than 1,500 “No Kings” protests for June 14 nationwide. Organizers describe the events as a day of defiance against what they term authoritarianism, symbolized by the military celebration. To avoid direct confrontation and prevent being framed as anti-military, the groups are intentionally holding events in other states while avoiding a large counterprotest in Washington, D.C.