This week the US Army has started reinforcing the roads in Washington that will carry 7 million pounds of machinery and weaponry during a military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army on June 14, which happens to also be President Taco’s birthday. Nearly 7,000 soldiers are set to participate.
Most of the tanks, vehicles and equipment are currently en route to Maryland from Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) in Texas, and will arrive by train at the rail station in Jessup, Maryland, early next week. They will then be offloaded onto flatbed trucks for onward transport to DC.
The parade is planned to present vehicles that tell a story of the Army’s 250-year history, beginning with the Revolutionary War, the two World Wars, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the war on terror, and the modern eras.
The parade will feature dozens of M1-A1 Abrams tanks and Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles, as well as Howitzers and other artillery pieces. CNN has the listing here.
There will also be an “extensive” flyover, featuring Army helicopters, including AH-64 Apaches, UH-60 Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks.
The Army’s Golden Knights parachute demonstration team also will jump and present Trump with an American flag – the only part of the parade that will involve Taco directly.
The US Army Corps of Engineers is heading up the effort to protect D.C.’s roads and infrastructure, which have so far cost at least $3 million. “Officials” estimate the total cost of the parade will be as high as $45 million.
The Army began laying down steel plates at various locations along the parade route on Wednesday. The plates will be reinforced into the pavement with railroad ties. After the parade the Army will be removing the plates, and performing any cosmetic upkeep that needs to be done.
Parade planners continue to be concerned for potential damage to underground gas lines, but engineers assess the risk to be low.
