The 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army is being marked with a grand parade in Washington. Anti-Trump groups say they want to steal the spotlight.
President Donald Trump said Americans are invited to the nation’s capital for “an unforgettable celebration” of the Army’s 250th anniversary on June 14.
That date is also Flag Day, marking the adoption of America’s first national flag in 1777, and Trump’s 79th birthday.
But the president’s detractors said they are planning “No Kings Day of Defiance” protests in an attempt to shift focus “everywhere else,” away from the grand parade Trump described.
“Thundering tanks and breathtaking flyovers will roar through our capital city,” Trump said in a videotaped message, “as nearly 7,000 soldiers march in historic uniforms from every major war since the Revolution.”
Trump urged people to reserve a spot at America250.org and join in a “once-in-a-lifetime celebration.”
“I think it’s going to be better and bigger than any parade we’ve ever had in this country,” he said.
The day-long celebration will include concerts, fireworks, and displays on the National Mall, at a cost of $25 million to $45 million, officials have estimated.
The Army’s Golden Knights parachute team is expected to present Trump with a folded American flag, followed by the president swearing in 250 recruits or re-enlistees.
These events conclude a week-long commemoration of the Army’s semiquincentennial, which included a presidential visit with soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Any attempt to disrupt Saturday’s celebration will be met with “very heavy force,” Trump told reporters earlier this week, following days of unrest in Los Angeles and elsewhere.
Some demonstrations over the enforcement of federal immigration laws turned violent, leading to hundreds of arrests.
The Secret Service has said enhanced security measures will be in place, affecting air and ground travel near the festivities.
There had been no credible threats, officials said early in the week.
However, they have not released an update in the wake of Israel, a U.S. ally, striking suspected nuclear-weapons sites in Iran early on June 13.
Iran conducted retaliatory strikes on Israel later on June 13, after Iranian leaders vowed revenge against both Israel and the United States.
By Janice Hisle
