Large metal plates will be placed at key points along the 250th Army celebration parade route to protect the streets of Washington, D.C.
The June 14 parade, which also falls on President Donald Trump’s birthday, will include 25 M1 Abrams main battle tanks rolling through the capital. The inclusion of the tanks, which weigh about 66.8 metric tons, has raised concerns about their impact on D.C. streets.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said the parade organizers should have to cover the cost of any repairs needed as a result of the tanks. The metal plates, which weigh hundreds of pounds, were determined to be the best way to prevent damage because they will strategically be placed at points in the route where the tanks will turn. When tanks turn, their metal and rubber tracking can do the most damage, an official told the Associated Press.
The parade will include 6,600 soldiers, some of whom will be dressed in historical costumes representing uniforms worn by soldiers from each conflict dating back to the Revolutionary War. There will also be 150 vehicles, including the M1 Abrams main battle tanks, and 50 helicopters.
“The procession will tell the story of the history of the Army, beginning with the Revolutionary War and concluding with the modern-day Army,” Army spokeswoman Heather Hagan told the Washington Post.
TRUMP 250TH ANNIVERSARY MILITARY PARADE ESTIMATED TO COST UP TO $45 MILLION
The parade is projected to cost between $25 million and $45 million, receiving criticism from some Democrats as being wasteful and a boost to Trump’s ego, as it falls on his 79th birthday.
Last month, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced legislation that would prohibit federal dollars from being spent on a military parade “primarily intended to celebrate the birthday, personal milestone, or private interest of any individual, including President Donald J. Trump.”
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
