Celebrating the US Army’s 250th birthday on Saturday, June 14, President Donald Trump hosted a massive parade in Washington, D.C., with military equipment rolling by as soldiers dressed in the uniforms of different eras in American military history marched through town. During the parade, the president gave a rousing speech in which he celebrated the military’s long history of giving our nation’s enemies “hell.”
Beginning his speech, the president noted that most other nations have parades of the sort America just saw, and that he finds it odd that America didn’t have such parades celebrating our victories and great moments until this one. He said, “Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did too — that’s what we’re doing tonight.”
Continuing, he called on those listening around the country and in the nation’s capital to think about the many soldiers who have laid down their lives for America, saying, “As we celebrate tonight, we also think of the hundreds of thousands of Army soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice for our nation and selflessly laid down their lives in every war, from the revolution to the war on terror, to the Gold Star families with us today.”
Then, after recounting some of the US Army’s greatest victories, such as the World War I battle for Argonne Forest and the Spanish-American War fight for San Juan Hill, the President Trump said that “the Army has forged a legacy of unmatched courage, untold sacrifice, and unequaled and undying glory.”
Giving an example of that indomitable spirit, the president commented on Gen. John Corse, a Union commander who was shot in the face at the Battle of Allatoona Pass during the Civil War, but who refused to back down. Trump said of Gen. Corse, “He fired off a message to his commander, ‘I am short a cheekbone and one ear, but I am able to whip the hell out of all of them.’”
And, rousingly commenting on the Army’s spirit generally, as shown in those countless battles, the president said, “No matter the risks, no matter the obstacles, our warriors will charge into battle… and they will seize the crown of victory because the United States of America will always have the grace of Almighty God and the iron will of the United States Army.”
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Commenting on Truth Social shortly before the parade, the president said that the parade would go on regardless of rain or shine, saying, “OUR GREAT MILITARY PARADE IS ON, RAIN OR SHINE. REMEMBER, A RAINY DAY PARADE BRINGS GOOD LUCK. I’LL SEE YOU ALL IN D.C.”
Similarly, before the event, the president vowed that any protesters who tried to hold up the even would be met with stiff force, saying, “If there’s any protest once they come out, they will be met with very big force.” Continuing, he explained, “I haven’t even heard about a protest. But people that hate our country … they will be met with very heavy force.”
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