Big things are planned for President Donald Trump‘s military parade on Saturday.
The National Mall in Washington, D.C., will be filled with parading military vehicles from the Army’s 250 years of operation. The Army began operations on June 14, 1775, one year before the United States was founded. Saturday is also Trump’s 79th birthday.
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“This parade will honor all of the military men and women who have bravely served our country, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. “No event can fully capture our gratitude for those who have worn the uniform, but this grand parade will ensure our veterans and active-duty service members are recognized with the respect and magnificence they deserve.”
While some details are still being finalized, the parade will proceed down Constitution Avenue, which marks the northern edge of the National Mall.
The parade will run down Constitution Avenue between 23rd Street and 15th Street, beginning near the Lincoln Memorial and ending between the Washington Monument and the White House. Along that stretch will be an estimated 6,600 soldiers, 370 vehicles, and 50 aircraft flyovers.
“With tanks, historic reenactments, state-of-the-art military technology, and synchronized flyovers, the president will view this grand display from an official review stand before delivering closing remarks during a nationally televised ceremony,” a White House official told the Washington Examiner.
Trump requested the aircraft and other equipment to capture the military’s might, the spokesperson added. The event will conclude with a “live reenlistment ceremony” symbolizing service, loyalty, and continued sacrifice.
Event organizers say they are creating the largest, most inspiring, and most unifying commemoration in the nation’s history and providing an opportunity for all Americans to come together in honor of the military.
“It is incredibly important to President Trump to ensure that those who have worn the uniform, and our country’s 250th anniversary as a whole, receive the respect and celebration they deserve,” the official said. “Reigniting patriotism and honoring those who died for our freedom is a worthy investment.”
An estimated 200,000 people are expected to descend on downtown Washington for the occasion, which will, as a side effect, temporarily reprieve some federal workers from return-to-office mandates.
The parade will prompt road closures and other measures in the city, and even Reagan National Airport will halt takeoffs and landings for several hours Saturday to accommodate the flyovers.
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Festival attendees on Saturday will have to go through security checkpoints, and 18.5 miles of security fencing will be erected across the district. Security officials will also use drones as part of the security strategy, and waterways around the district will be closed.
Officials are also tracking the “No Kings Day” protests set to take place across the country.