When the army celebrates its 250th anniversary on June 14, a date that happens to be the 79th anniversary of President Donald Trump, the streets of Washington, DC, will be filled with walking troops and tanks while the planes of the Second World War and the helicopters of the Vietnam War moved over.
The parade will also be included 34 horsepower, two mules, a wagon and a dog.
Army Colonel Kamil Sztalkoper, spokesperson for armored body III, said that the dog is a blue heel (alias an Australian cattle dog) named “Doc Holliday” – probably a nod to the famous Gunslinger played by Val Kilmer in the film “Tombstone”.
This Australian cattle dog, named “Doc Holiday”, will participate in the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American army on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC
US military
Doc joined the Detachment of Horse Cavalry of the Army Cavalry Division in Fort Cavazos, Texas, more than two years ago as a young puppy, said Sztalkoper. Part of the unit, which is mainly used for community events, is a wagon pulled by two mules. Doc goes up to the back of the wagon.
“It’s nothing for him. He is used to parades,” said Sztalkoper, noting that Doc has already participated twice in the Pasadena, California parade. And while Doc falls “definitely in the sweet and fun category”, Sztalkoper said that he “knew his place very well when it is time for the parade”.
Doc and his unit plan to leave Texas on June 10 so that they can reach Washington in time to participate in the army parade four days later.
Doc’s trip to the national capital is part of a massive effort in progress by the army – and Trump – to mark the marking birthday of the service with a festival and a week -long parade which includes some 6,700 soldiers. Celebration planning has been underway for almost two years, according to officials. It was not until this year after the inauguration of Trump, however, that officials began to explore options to further enlarge the event with a parade.
Trump had asked for a military parade during his first mandate, but the effort was abandoned after the costs exceeded $ 90 million.
The final cost of this year’s event is unknown. While the army is expected to spend up to $ 45 million to deploy troops and equipment, the celebration should require considerable security equally with a large -scale event such as the Super Bowl or the presidential inauguration.
Although army officials said that he was not planned for any of the eight groups participating in the parade to sing “Happy Birthday” to Trump, the Golden Knights will parachuate themselves on the White House ellipse and offer the president an American folded flag. After the parade, Trump also administered the constitutional oath at 250 enlisted from the army.
“It’s a lot of money, but I think the amount of money is overshadowed by 250 years of service and sacrifice that the American soldiers have given to this country,” said army spokesman Steve Warren.
“We consider it an opportunity to really strengthen the link between America and its army,” he added. “So, yes, it’s a lot of money, but it turns pale compared to what we sell.”
The event is not the first military parade in Washington, although it is probably the biggest. The American army under President George HW Bush organized a victory parade in June 1991 after the Persian Gulf War.
The tanks are loaded for transport to Fort Cavazos, near Killeen, Texas, on May 21, 2025.
Jim 3 Turn / AP
Army officials said the parade is designed to tell the story of the army, starting with troops bearing a revolutionary war costume. While the parade enters the era of the Second World War, the troops will walk the sides of the period Jeeps and a M4 Sherman reservoir while a B-25 Mitchell Bomber, a Skytrain Douglas C-47 transport aircraft and four hunting buffers Mustang P-51 North American above the head. More recent conflicts will be represented with the UH-1 HUEY, AH-1 COBRA, AH-64 APACHE and CH-47 Chinook Helicopters army.
Abrams 28 M1 reservoirs, 28 Stryker vehicles and six Paladin autopropulgés are also included in the parade.
On Wednesday, the army began loading the tanks on railway cars from its base in Fort Cavazos to hike to Washington, DC in the coming weeks. The tanks will be shipped to Jessup, Maryland, before being loaded on trucks and driven in a staging area in Washington near Lincoln Memorial.
