Nation's capital prepares for Army's 250th birthday celebration this weekend
This weekend marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, and the city of DC is hard at work preparing for the festivities.
Americans on Saturday will celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C., the nation's capital.
This year’s theme, “This We’ll Defend,” was originally used by the Continental Army as a battle cry.
“Today, it reminds us that our Army’s purpose is clear: to fight and win the nation’s wars,” reads the U.S. Army website. “We remain committed to honing our warfighting skills, enforcing standards and discipline, and living the values that have defined our Army for the past 250 years.”
Here is everything you need to know regarding the weekend festivities, security measures, history and more:
Expectations
The 250th birthday festival will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sat. June 14. The festival will be held on the National Mall and will end at 6 p.m.
Following the festival, the Grand Military Parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last for an hour. The parade will begin at the corner of 23rd Street NW and Constitution Ave. NW. There will be a concert at The Ellipse at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
Attendance is free.
Officials are recommending that attendees leave their pets at home and utilize rideshares and public transportation due to road closures and limited parking.
The parade will commence in the north parking lot of the Pentagon and continue along the Memorial Bridge, passing the Lincoln Memorial before it heads east along Constitution Avenue. It will end on 15th Street NW.
According to the Washington D.C. events website, the parade is expected to feature over 6,000 troops, military vehicles, flyovers and more. The birthday festival will consist of performances, family-friendly activities, exhibits and special guest appearances.
Expecting hundreds of thousands of attendees, the Secret Service is planning a number of security measures for the weekend festivities. In a briefing on Monday, Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office, noted the usage of nearly 19 miles of anti-scale fencing, 17 miles of bike rack concrete barriers, 175 magnetometers and officers from federal, state and local agencies standing post.
Preparation
For this year’s celebration, planning only began on April 22, according to FOX 5 DC. While this window is smaller than usual, federal officials say they are confident in their security plans.
Along the parade route, fencing has been seen being put up all week. When all is said and done, nearly 19 miles of fencing will have been placed within the areas surrounding the festivities.
On The Ellipse, construction began this week on a stage for the Saturday evening concert.
President Trump has long wanted a large military parade, and discussions for parade planning began with the plans for the festival.
Saturday June 14, the day of the Army 250th birthday festivities, also happens to be President Trump’s 79th birthday.
A final cost for the celebration has yet to be announced. However, the Associated Press reported that the parade is expected to cost “tens of millions of dollars.”
Security
Law enforcement personnel are working together in close communication to make this celebration a peaceful event for all and are confident in the safety of the event.
Anyone entering the festival or parade grounds must pass through security to ensure maximum safety for all in attendance, law enforcement have announced.
MPD Chief Pamela Smith stated that, starting Saturday morning, the MPD will be at full activation to ensure the safety of all those in attendance while also maintaining the seven districts that the MPD serves.
Despite concerns of violence in light of the recent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, law enforcement remain optimistic for the safety of the event. At least nine protest groups are expected.
Protesters will have full freedom to exercise “their first amendment right to protest,” according to McCool. He further stated that if protests become “violent or any laws are broken, that’s when the district's Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Park Police and Secret Service will get involved, and that will be handled swiftly.”
Trump vowed this week that demonstrators who go beyond their right to peacefully protest “will be met with very big force.”
Earlier this week, Phillip Bates, FBI special agent in charge of the Washington field office said, “We are not currently aware of any credible threats to the Army 250th birthday celebration.”
History and facts
Since June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress voted “to raise 10 companies of riflemen in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia,” the United States Army has been a primary defender of Americans' freedom and safety at home and abroad.
With 250 years of service, the U.S. Army has seen action on several continents and has been on the front lines of many engagements throughout history from the American Revolution to D-Day to more recent engagements in the Middle East.
In addition to military support, the Army has been providing humanitarian relief since the mid 1800s.
In anticipation of this celebration, a new exhibit opened June 7 at the National Museum of the United States Army honoring the soldiers of the American Revolution.
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