When the Army celebrates its 250th birthday on June 14, a date that simply so occurs to be President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, the streets of Washington, D.C., will probably be full of marching troops and tanks as World Battle II airplanes and Vietnam Battle-era helicopters swoop overhead.
Additionally included within the parade will probably be 34 horses, two mules, one wagon and a canine.
Military Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, a spokesman for the III Armored Corps, stated the canine is a Blue Heeler (aka an Australian Cattle Canine) named “Doc Holliday” — possible a nod to the well-known gunslinger performed by Val Kilmer within the film “Tombstone.”
This Australian Cattle Canine, named “Doc Vacation,” will participate within the U.S. Military 250th birthday celebration on June 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Military
Doc joined the Military’s 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment at Fort Cavazos, Texas, greater than two years in the past as a younger pet, Sztalkoper stated. A part of the unit, which is used principally for neighborhood occasions, is a wagon pulled by two mules. Doc rides behind the wagon.
“That is nothing for him. He is used to parades,” stated Sztalkoper, noting that Doc has participated twice already within the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. And whereas Doc falls “undoubtedly within the candy and playful class,” Sztalkoper stated he “is aware of his place very effectively when it is time for the parade.”
Doc and his unit plan to depart Texas on June 10 to allow them to attain Washington in time to take part within the Military parade 4 days later.
Doc’s journey to the nation’s capital is a part of an enormous effort underway by the Military — and Trump — to mark the service’s milestone birthday with a weeklong pageant and parade that features some 6,700 troopers. Planning for the celebration has been beneath means for shut to 2 years, based on officers. It wasn’t till this yr following Trump’s inauguration, nevertheless, that officers started exploring choices to make the occasion even greater with a parade.
Trump had sought a army parade in his first time period, however the effort was scrapped after prices topped $90 million.
The ultimate price of this yr’s occasion is unknown. Whereas the Military is estimated to spend as much as $45 million to deploy troops and gear, the celebration is anticipated to require appreciable safety on par with a large-scale occasion just like the Tremendous Bowl or presidential inauguration.
Although Military officers stated there aren’t any plans for any of the eight bands taking part within the parade to sing “glad birthday” to Trump, the Golden Knights will parachute onto the White Home Ellipse and supply the president a folded American flag. After the parade, Trump can even administer the constitutional oath to 250 Military enlistees.
“It’s some huge cash, however I believe that amount of cash is dwarfed by 250 years of service and sacrifice that American troopers have given this nation,” Military spokesman Steve Warren stated.
“We’re taking a look at this as a chance to actually strengthen the connection between America and her Military,” he added. “So, yeah, it is some huge cash, nevertheless it pales compared to what we’re promoting.”
The occasion is not the primary army parade in Washington, although it’s more likely to be the most important. The U.S. army beneath President George H.W. Bush held a victory parade in June 1991 following the Persian Gulf Battle.
Tanks are loaded for transport at Fort Cavazos, close to Killeen, Texas, Could 21, 2025.
Jim Vertuno/AP
Military officers stated the parade is designed to inform the historical past of the Military, beginning with troops sporting Revolutionary Battle garb. Because the parade enters the World Battle II period, troops will march alongside interval jeeps and an M4 Sherman tank whereas a B-25 Mitchell bomber plane, Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft and 4 North American P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers buzz overhead. Newer conflicts will probably be represented with Military UH-1 Huey, AH-1 Cobra, AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
Additionally included within the parade are 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker autos and 6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers.
The Military on Wednesday started loading the tanks on to rail vehicles from its base in Fort Cavazos to make the trek to Washington, D.C. in coming weeks. The tanks will probably be shipped to Jessup, Maryland, earlier than being loaded onto vehicles and pushed to a staging space in Washington close to the Lincoln Memorial.
