Fort Benning, Columbus unite for Army 5K birthday celebration
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)-Saturday morning in Uptown Columbus saw community members come together for a birthday celebration honoring the U.S. Army.
This occasion was one of several events this week where Fort Benning and the City of Columbus will collaborate, with a focus on community unity.
According to Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, Commanding General of Fort Benning, 'The aim is to bring the community together.' This week's events include a free community event, 'Salute to the Army 250,' hosted by Fort Benning MWR on June 14th, 2025, from 10 AM to 4 PM at the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, GA.
The event will commemorate the Army's 250th birthday with family-friendly activities, live entertainment, equipment displays, food, and a birthday cake.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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USA Today
9 hours ago
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When is Trump's military parade? What to know ahead of June 14
The streets of central D.C. are soon to be filled with thousands of soldiers, massive tanks and artillery, and the cacophonic rumble of Vintage warplanes and sleek Blackhawks flying overhead. That's because the U.S. Army is marking its 250th anniversary with a pomp-filled procession through the streets of the nation's capital Saturday, June 14, showcasing military might in a display with few, if any, precedents. The date also coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. The parade, which will feature Army equipment, flyovers, musical performances and thousands of soldiers in uniforms from the past and the present, caps off a week of programming designed to celebrate the country's military might. Trump posted a short video address about the parade to Truth Social on Friday, June 6, inviting Americans to what he called an "unforgettable" celebration, "one like you've never seen before." "For two and a half centuries, the men and women of America's Army have dominated our enemies and protected our freedom at home," he said in the video. "This parade salutes our soldiers' remarkable strength and unbeatable spirit. You won't want to miss it. Just don't miss this one. It's going to be good." Here's what to know about the parade and day-long celebration in Washington, D.C. When and where is the June 14 DC military parade? The military parade is slated for Saturday, June 14, in the heart of Washington, D.C., spanning six blocks and bisecting the National Mall. Organizers say the procession begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. What are the events and performances at the June 14 celebration? Celebrations and associated events are set to take place throughout the day at the Army Birthday Festival starting at 11 a.m. ET. Members of the public can visit, where there will be military demonstrations, equipment displays and live music throughout the day, Army event organizers say Visitors can expect kid zones, more than 50 vendors and experience booths and meet-and-greets with "Army soldiers, NFL players, influencers and celebrities," according to the U.S. Army event page. Those feeling adventurous can show up early and take part in the Army's fitness competition, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. There will be several musical acts throughout the June 14 celebration, including country singer Scotty Hasting, a former Army infantryman who was wounded in Afghanistan, country singer Noah Hicks of Nashville and DJ Nyla Symone. The Army's birthday parade will cross in front of Trump's viewing stand on Constitution Avenue, just south of the White House, around sundown. The president is also expected to attend an enlistment and re-enlistment ceremony after the parade. A parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights and a fireworks display and evening concert will conclude the festivities. Where is the Army Birthday Festival? The festival is between 14th Street SW and the 12th Street Expressway on the lawn between Madison Drive NW and Jefferson Drive SW, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. It is next to the Smithsonian Metro Station NW entrance, which will be closed, organizers say, though the Smithsonian Metro Station SW entrance will be open. Information is also available on the Army's event website, What does the parade celebrate? Is it Trump's birthday parade? Though the parade is on the same day as the president's 79th birthday, event organizers and administration officials say it is solely to celebrate the U.S. Army. The administration has insisted that the Army's anniversary and Trump's birthday are a coincidence and that the parade is justified to honor soldiers' sacrifice. Plans for the June 14 parade began in earnest about a month ago. Yet as focus squares in on the U.S. Army's 250 years of existence, other branches are notably left out. The Navy, which also celebrates its 250th anniversary this year in October, has no plans for a similar parade, a spokesperson told USA TODAY. Neither does the Marine Corps, for its 250th in November. Inside the military parade: Tanks, cannons and soldiers sleeping in DC offices How to get tickets to attend in person Tickets for the parade are limited, but those interested in attending the parade on June 14 can RSVP here. Prospective attendees will be asked to provide their full name, phone number, email, state and zip code. Where does the 'Grand Military Parade' start and end? The parade will take place along Constitution Avenue NW, starting on Constitution Avenue NW and 23rd Street and ending on 15th Street alongside the National Mall, near the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Graphic of Parade Route: See where the procession will go through central DC How to watch the June 14 parade Events from the 250th birthday celebration, including the parade, will be livestreamed on all U.S. Army social media platforms. Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Tom Vanden Brook Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Fort Benning, Columbus unite for Army 5K birthday celebration
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)-Saturday morning in Uptown Columbus saw community members come together for a birthday celebration honoring the U.S. Army. This occasion was one of several events this week where Fort Benning and the City of Columbus will collaborate, with a focus on community unity. According to Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, Commanding General of Fort Benning, 'The aim is to bring the community together.' This week's events include a free community event, 'Salute to the Army 250,' hosted by Fort Benning MWR on June 14th, 2025, from 10 AM to 4 PM at the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, GA. The event will commemorate the Army's 250th birthday with family-friendly activities, live entertainment, equipment displays, food, and a birthday cake. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Country singers and parade celebrate Army – and (unofficially) Trump's birthday
Country singers and parade celebrate Army – and (unofficially) Trump's birthday A massive military parade on the streets of Washington will showcase troops, tanks, weapons, aircraft – and music performers including country singer Scotty Hasting, a former Army infantryman who was wounded in Afghanistan. Country singer Noah Hicks of Nashville and DJ Nyla Symone, one of New York's youngest DJs, will perform at the U.S. Army's Grand Military Parade in Washington. The parade is a celebration of the Army's 250th year, scheduled for June 14 – which is also President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. A concert will feature "5-7 musical acts" with country music performers, not yet identified, according to Axios. Trump is scheduled to speak at the event, which is expected to draw at least 200,000 people. You can register for free tickets to the parade, but they're limited. The two-hour event, a military spectacle and unofficial birthday party, takes place on Constitution Avenue near the National Mall and starts at 6:30 p.m. ET. Events include Army parachuters jumping from aircraft, landing and giving Trump an American flag for his birthday, Pentagon officials said, according to Axios. Trump expressed a desire for a large military parade during his first administration. That did not happen, but the president is playing a major role in the Army celebration, which now includes the parade, Reuters reported. Where will the parade start and end? Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. The celebration day begins with a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in the morning. Events include "historical U.S. Army personnel reenactors, period-accurate equipment, vehicles, impressive flyovers, and military bands," according to America 250, the organizer. What's in the Army parade? For the celebration, the U.S. Army is bringing in: 7,500 troops 28 M1 Abrams tanks 28 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles 4 Paladin self-propelled howitzer cannons 50 Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters The vehicles will be transported by train, and the helicopters will be flown in. Vintage warplanes, including a World War II-era B-17 bomber and a P-51 Mustang fighter, are set to fly over the National Mall. The parade will cross in front of Trump's viewing stand on Constitution Avenue south of the White House at about 6 p.m. Trump is expected to preside over the enlistment and reenlistment of soldiers at the end of the parade. The event will end with fireworks at dusk. How much will the parade cost? The latest price tag for the parade is $30 million, a figure that could rise as high as $45 million. Though the Army is expected to pay for any damage from tanks rolling through the streets of the capital, it's "not expecting damage" to the roads, officials said. CONTRIBUTING Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Tom Vanden Brook SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; America 250
