Louise Rosand: How convenient 250th anniversary of country's Army falls on president's birthday

To The Daily Sun,

A parade for a birthday? How convenient the 250th anniversary of our country's Army falls on President Donald Trump's birth date (June 14). Wonder where he's going to get the fireworks from since most of them come from China that are now subject to large tariffs (from 25% to 145%).

In a statement May 2, Army spokesperson Steve Warren acknowledged a final decision had been made, saying the Army’s 250th birthday celebration will include “a spectacular fireworks display, a parade, and a day-long festival on the National Mall.” He said that given the significance of the Army birthday, they are looking at options “to make the celebration even bigger, with more capability demonstrations, additional displays of equipment, and more engagement with the community.” Cost for approximately 6,600+ soldiers?

Army planning documents, obtained this week by the AP and dated April 29-30, said the parade will include soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide. They said it would involve a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion and two companies of tanks, an infantry battalion with Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery vehicles, Howitzers and infantry vehicles. Again, what is the cost? The plans note that while the parade will begin near the Pentagon, the heavy, tracked vehicles — which would include the Strykers — would be stationed near the Lincoln Memorial and join the procession there, so they will not go over the bridge.

City officials, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, acknowledged in April that the administration reached out to the city about holding a parade on June 14. At the time, she said that tanks rolling through the city’s streets “would not be good. If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads".

Louise Rosand

Belmont