Soldiers in a tank wave to the crowd on Saturday, June 14, 2025, during the Army’s 250th anniversary parade and celebration in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Army veteran Melvin Graves said he had to be at the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration in the nation’s capital. The former paratrooper remembers veterans not getting a homecoming when they returned from Vietnam.
“This is about as close as it gets. I wasn’t going to come down, but the mind and the body said, ‘Go, go be a part of this,’” the 75-year-old Prince George’s County resident said.
The Army had a range of events this week to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the service, culminating with Saturday night’s parade that coincided with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
“I wouldn’t have done it,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said earlier this week. “We were always different than the images you saw in the Soviet Union and North Korea. We were proud not to be that.”
Paul was one of several lawmakers — Democrats and Republicans — who criticized the parade. About six in 10 Americans also said Saturday’s parade is “not a good use” of government money, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. But the majority of people polled, 78%, said they neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall.
“I blanked that out because I’m not here to serve [Trump]. I’m here because of my fellow troops,” Graves said. “The only way that this actually happens is because he jumped on it. Other than that, the recognition we should be getting probably wouldn’t be happening. So, we have to take advantage.”
After rain Friday night and threats of more inclement weather Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social in the morning that “the military parade is on.”
“Remember, a rainy day parade brings good luck. I’ll see you all in D.C,” he added.
Guests depart following the Army’s 250th birthday festival on June 14, 2025. (Gianna Gronowski/Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms march on Saturday, June 14, 2025, during the Army’s 250th anniversary parade and celebration in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Attendees move toward the exits on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the conclusion of the Army’s 250th anniversary parade and celebration in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., march down Constitution Avenue in Washington on June 14, 2025, during the Army’s 250th birthday parade. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)
Onlookers watch as Army helicopters pass by the Washington Monument during the Army’s 250th birthday parade on June 14, 2025. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)
M1 Abrams tanks roll down Constitution Avenue in front of President Donald Trump and others on the main viewing stand for the service’s 250th birthday parade in Washington on June 14, 2025. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)
Protesters gather at the parade grounds exit on Saturday, June 14, 2025, following the Army’s 250th anniversary parade and celebration in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Robotic dogs march on Saturday, June 14, 2025, during the Army’s 250th anniversary parade and celebration in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
A screen displays President Trump on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the conclusion of the Army’s 250th anniversary parade and celebration in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
The 82nd Airborne Division Band marches on Saturday, June 14, 2025, during the Army’s 250th anniversary parade and celebration in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Except for a few sprinkles early in the parade, the weather did not hinder the Army’s plans.
Trump long talked of a parade with soldiers and vehicles rolling down the streets of Washington similar to celebrations held in Moscow, Paris and other capitals throughout the world.
He backed off the idea in 2018 amid pushback from Army and District of Columbia officials over exorbitant costs and damage that tanks might inflict on city roads. Trump settled for a display of tanks and other armored vehicles during a July Fourth celebration in 2019 in Washington.
Saturday’s celebration began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in the morning, followed by a fitness competition and an Army birthday festival on the National Mall.
For the parade, the Army had about 6,700 troops from every service division, 150 vehicles and more than 50 aircraft. The cost for the parade and other events has been estimated to be as much as $45 million. The cost includes an estimated $16 million to repair streets and other damage to the city following the event, NBC News reported.
The service also brought 28 Abrams tanks to roll down a portion of Constitution Avenue. Other equipment for the celebration included 28 Bradley and 28 Stryker armored vehicles, four M109 Paladins and a series of historic vehicles, including Sherman tanks and a B-25 bomber.
Vice President JD Vance and Trump spoke hours after the parade began. Trump thanked the troops in attendance and told the crowd, “The Army keeps us free, makes us strong.”
He attempted to project America’s strength as a warning to global adversaries.
“Time and again, America’s enemies have learned that if you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you. Your defeat will be certain. Your demise will be final, and your downfall will be total and complete,” Trump said. “Our soldiers never give up, never surrender and never ever quit. They fight, fight, fight and win, win, win.”
People who attended the parade remained interested throughout the event. Audience members waved to soldiers in tanks and took plenty of pictures on their phones. As aircraft flew overhead, kids and adults alike raced toward an open spot for a better view.
Before the night ended, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump.
But as soldiers and military vehicles paraded down the streets of Washington, protesters marched in some cities throughout the nation in opposition to policies of the Trump administration.
Organizers of the “No Kings” protests said they were planned for Saturday to counter Trump’s plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and Flag Day. Protests happened in nearly 2,000 cities, but no protests were scheduled to take place in Washington where the military parade was held. However, some protesters could be seen along the parade route.
Trump also presided over an enlistment ceremony for 250 service members. He also was presented an American flag by the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team, after the unit completed a jump during the parade. The night concluded with a fireworks show lasting about 20 minutes.
