What to expect at Trumps $45 million military parade celebrating the US Armys 250th in DC
Hundreds of thousands of revelers are expected to flood the streets of Washington, DC, Saturday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army.The multi-million dollar parade — which also happens to be President Trump’s 79th birthday — will feature a dramatic display of around 6,600 soldiers as well as hundreds of vehicles and aircraft, Army officials said.“We’re going to have a great time; we are going to have a great celebration,” Trump said, touting the festival as a show of US military might.Planning for the celebration has been underway for the better part of two years, but the parade of military vehicles was added to the festivities this year, according to Army officials, who told CBS News the armed services branch is unlikely to acknowledge Trump’s birthday during the parade.The price tag for the event has been estimated between $25 million and $45 million, officials said, though the exact cost has not yet been disclosed.Although the event will align with Trump’s birthday, the timing is just a coincidence.The Second Continental Congress voted to create the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, after battles against the British in Concord and Lexington, naming George Washington commander-in-chief the next day.Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told the House Armed Services Committee that the parade represents an “amazing opportunity” to tell the story about the Army, and could even pay recruitment dividends.“I believe very specifically that telling that story will directly lead to a recruiting boom that will fill up our pipeline for the coming years,” Driscoll said.The festival will kick off on the National Mall at 9:30 a.m.
on Saturday, running until 6 p.m.The military parade will start at 6:30 p.m., starting at 23rd Street NW along Constitution Avenue to 15th Street NW, concluding around 7:30 p.m.
Fox News will be airing special coverage of the parade from 6-10 p.m.ET; if you don’t have cable, you can watch for free with a five-day tria...