The Army’s 250th birthday parade will feature about 6,600 soldiers, 150 ground vehicles, and 50 aircraft. The cost will be between $25 million and $45 million.
Thousands of soldiers and dozens of military vehicles will parade through the streets of Washington on June 14 to celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army.
The parade will be one part of a week of events to celebrate the history and founding of the largest and oldest service in the U.S. military.
It will serve as the centerpiece for the Army’s birthday celebrations and will feature about 6,600 soldiers, 150 ground vehicles, 50 aircraft, 34 horses, two mules, and a dog.
Route of Parade
The parade will start at 6:30 p.m. on June 14 at the intersection of 23rd St. NW and Constitution Avenue and continue east on Constitution Avenue before ending on 15th St. NW.
Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said the parade and accompanying events on June 14 are expected to cost between $25 million and $45 million.
Parade Will Cover Eras of Army History
With this milestone birthday, the Army will use the parade to display its history, from the Revolutionary War to the present day.
The modern Army has its roots in the Continental Army of the original 13 American colonies.
Following the outbreak of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775, the Second Continental Congress convened in Independence Hall in Philadelphia. On June 14, 1775, it ordered the formation of the Continental Army, which under George Washington’s leadership bore much of the burden of fighting for American independence.
The Army has traditionally celebrated the date as its birthday.
Among the various Army units participating in the parade will be the Third Infantry Regiment. The Third Infantry Regiment is the Regular Army’s oldest infantry unit and traces its origins to the First American Regiment, which was formed in 1784.
Ceremonial units such as the Fife and Drum Corps and the “Commander in Chief’s Guard” will also appear in the parade wearing uniforms inspired by those worn by members of the Continental Army.
Continuing the journey through history, the parade will feature members of the 42nd Infantry Division, which was formed during World War I from National Guard elements from 26 states and the District of Columbia.
Members of the 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 10th Mountain Division—three divisions that gained prominence during World War II—will also participate.
Showcasing the service of the U.S. ground fighting force through the Vietnam War era, the parade will feature members of the First Cavalry Division and the 25th Infantry Division.
Originally formed in 1921 as a horse cavalry division, the First Cavalry Division was reorganized as an airmobile force during the Vietnam War. Members of the division fought in the Battle of Ia Drang, which was the first major battle of the Vietnam War and was the subject of the 2002 film “We Were Soldiers.”
The 25th Infantry Division, nicknamed “Tropic Lightning,” was formed during World War II and specialized in the jungle environment of the Pacific theater of the war. The 25th Infantry Division’s proficiency in jungle warfare again proved instrumental in the Vietnam War effort.
The parade will also feature members of the Army Special Operations Command, including members of the 75th Ranger Regiment and First Special Forces Regiment. Air crew from the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which specializes in flying special operations units in and out of danger, are set to fly over the parade route.
Along with the various active Army units, the parade will feature members of the Army Reserve, cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and other senior military colleges, and prospective enlistees.
By Ryan Morgan
