Washington City Paper first reported on the parade, set for June 14, noting it will stretch almost 4 miles from the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., to the White House.
An Army official confirmed the parade’s length to The Hill, and said that “there are plans for a parade that will involve the Army,” adding that nothing is yet solidified.
The official noted that the Army had planned to celebrate its 250th anniversary with a “robust capability increase in what you would see in previous years.” Planning began last year and the event has since expanded, with the number of units participating now increased.
The official also said Washington’s local government has been involved in the planning, with engineers in both the Army and city doing “route reconnaissance.”
“The Army is very excited to celebrate its 250th anniversary with the entire county. Our intention is for Americans to be proud of their Army and also proud of their nation. It’s too early to say yet whether or not we’re having a parade but we’re working with the White House as well as several government agencies to make the celebration a national level event,” Army spokesperson Col. Dave Butler told The Hill.
President Trump, in his first term in 2018, ordered the Pentagon to plan a large military parade after he visited Paris and was inspired by a French Bastille Day event.
But that event, set for Nov. 10, was canceled after defense officials quoted the price tag at $92 million and were slow to plan it, citing more pressing issues. The event also was heavily criticized both publicly and in private within the administration.
Washington officials also complained that heavy military equipment such as tanks would damage the city’s roads and cost the city millions of dollars for public safety.
The Defense Department could use its training budget to pay for flyovers and use vehicles from nearby bases, but the event would also require outside costs such as pay for Secret Service and police, and the renting and construction of stands and barriers.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
