Military gearing up for mega street parade in capital city's heart, showcasing an impressive 7 million pounds of military equipment.
Let's crack open the can of worms called the upcoming military spectacle in our nation's capital - Washington, D.C. This mega-parade, a brainchild of President Trump, is set to roll into town in just over two weeks, complete with armored behemoths and enough weaponry to make even the most hardened action flick hero swoon. But here's the catch - all those tanks and fighting vehicles aren't exactly known for their gentle touch, raising eyebrows about the well-being of our city's roadways.
This parade, the largest in DC's history, is expected to bear a mind-boggling 7 million pounds of vehicles and weaponry. The price tag? Potentially tens of millions of dollars. This week, the U.S. Army has taken to reinforcing the roads destined to bear this massive load, downtown and along the parade route.
DC will soon be home to a cavalcade of M1-A1 Abrams tanks, Bradley, and Stryker fighting vehicles, not to mention Howitzers and other artillery pieces. Nearly 7,000 soldiers are set to participate. Most of the vehicles and equipment are currently en route to Maryland from Fort Cavazos in Texas, and should arrive by train at the Jessup, Maryland rail station early next week.
So, how are they gonna keep the roads - and our wallets - from crumbling? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, leading the charge, is confident they've got the situation under control with the measures they're deploying to minimize damage. These measures have cost over $3 million thus far, Army officials say, with the parade's total cost potentially reaching $45 million.
To maintain the city's infrastructure, they're laying down steel plates at key spots along the parade route, creating a protective barrier where tanks must make sharp turns. New track pads will be fitted to every vehicle, relieving pressure on the asphalt and preventing wear. To minimize stress on the roads, tanks will proceed at a leisurely pace during the parade itself.
Col. Jesse Curry, the director of the Office of the Chief of Engineers, said they've got the best engineers on the case, working closely with various agencies and DC utility companies to keep damage to a minimum. Steel plates began being laid down on Wednesday night, and matting will be put out at a staging area in West Potomac Park, near the National Mall, for the Abrams tanks to relax on before hitting the streets.
The Army has been planning this extravaganza for two years, but adding a parade was the Trump White House's idea. Trump has long coveted a grand military parade - one that would showcase all military services - going back to his first term. However, the plan was scrapped then due to concerns over excessive costs and potential damage to DC streets.
This time around, the parade will be slightly smaller and less expensive, focusing solely on the Army. The Army Corps of Engineers began assessing the infrastructure's resilience during the parade back in April. Initially, they estimated the cost to protect DC streets would hover around $16 million. Thankfully, that estimate has since dropped to less than $4 million, covering the cost for steel plates, road reinforcement, removal, and post-parade cosmetic repairs.
Despite the reassurances, there are still concerns among some agencies regarding potential damage to underground gas lines, particularly between the rail station in Jessup and the National Mall. But, according to Curry, the risk is minimal. The Army has gone over the expected route with utility companies, looking at their gas and electric lines, which mostly run under sidewalks rather than in the middle of the road - a fact that helps alleviate concerns about critical infrastructure damage.
The big show is meant to narrate the Army's 250-year history, starting with the Revolutionary War, tracing through significant conflicts, and culminating in the present day. The parade route commences near the Lincoln Memorial on Constitution Avenue, proceeds east to 15th Street, and ends at the intersection of 15th and Independence Avenue.
Here's a taste of what you'll see:
- World War I: A Dodge Staff car, a Renault tank
- World War II: 6 Willys jeeps, 2 Sherman tanks, 2 Half-tracks, 1 M14 high-speed tractor, a 2.5-ton truck towing a 37mm anti-tank gun
- Vietnam War: 3 M151 jeeps, 2 M35A2 cargo trucks, 1 M274 Mule
- Gulf War: 8 M181 armored vehicles, 2 Paladins, 8 M2 Bradley fighting vehicles, 6 M119 howitzers
- Global War on Terror: 18 Strykers
- Modern Era 1: 6 M777 artillery pieces, 12 M2 Bradley fighting vehicles, 4 M119 howitzers, 12 ISV utility vehicles, 12 Abrams tanks
- Modern Era 2: 3 Paladins, 12 Strykers, 12 M2 Bradley fighting vehicles, 9 M777 artillery pieces, 9 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, 12 Abrams tanks
The parade will also boast an "extensive" flyover, with over 50 helicopters, including AH-64 Apaches, UH-60 Black Hawks, and CH-47 Chinooks. Finally, the Army's Golden Knights parachute demonstration team will jump and present Trump with an American flag - the only part of the parade that will involve the president directly, Army officials say.
Stay tuned for more updates on this titanic undertaking, as our nation grudgingly hails the military might only its streets can now bear witness to! Cheers! 🍻🎖️🦃💥🇺🇸
The upcoming parade, despite its reduced scale this time around, still consists of a vast array of military hardware from various periods, ranging from World War I to the modern era, embodying the Army's 250-year history. Concurrently, the finance sector is closely monitoring the potential expenditure on preserving the city's infrastructure, with the overall estimated cost expected to reach $45 million, based on the measures deployed to minimize damage.
