Wool coats and 19th century hats: See costumes soldiers will wear at big Army parade

USA Today

3 days ago

Wool coats and 19th century hats: See costumes soldiers will wear at big Army parade Of the 7,000 soldiers from bases around the world that will appear in the parade, around a thousand will don historical costumes from some of the U.S.'s major wars.
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Armored tanks arrive in DC for Trump's military birthday parade
As Washington, D.C. prepares for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, armored tanks have begun to arrive ahead of Saturday's celebration.
Soldiers are buttoning up 19th century frock coats, slipping into suspenders, and donning tri-corner hats to march in the Army's 250th anniversary parade on June 14.
"It's a little warm and a little hot, but we get used to it," said Jay Healy, a staff sergeant who will march in the parade, of his costume – a black and white tri-corner hat and red and blue wool jacket replete with silver buttons.
Of the 7,000 soldiers from bases around the world that will appear in the parade, around a thousand will don historical costumes from some of the U.S.'s major conflicts – the Revolutionary War, Civil War, both world wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War.
The costumes will be provided by the Motion Picture Costume Company – a Los Angeles-based contractor. The company declined to comment to USA TODAY.
With the weather set to hit a high of 83 degrees with a chance of thunderstorms, soldiers in heavy wool coats and thick pants are in for a few hours of baking heat.
But many, including Healy, are already used to period attire from performing in the Army's Twilight Tattoo – weekly live performances open to the public from late May through July.
The showcase includes short reenactments of some of the Army's major conflicts through history, acted out in brief and lively form by soldiers dressed in historical wear. Sound is used to full effect, with cannons on the sidelines firing off frequent volleys and soldiers spraying simulated shots as part of the battle scenes. The show also features a musical component, courtesy of several singers accompanied by the Army Blues, an Army jazz band.
"It's a unique experience," said Cullen McDannold, a private first class, of the parade. McDannold will likely march in the World War II-era costume he wore for the Twilight Tattoo – head-to-toe Army green and a shoulder patch of the 101st Airborne Division's eagle crest.
Tevin Gentry, a specialist, geared up for a June 11 Twilight Tattoo performance wearing a War of 1812 uniform including a high-collared, striped coat, white side-buttoned trousers, and a flat topped leather hat and satchel.
"The jacket is heavy. The pants are very comfortable," Gentry said.
As of that evening, Gentry hadn't yet learned if he'll be among of the soldiers tapped to march in the massive military parade through Washington, D.C.'s streets that weekend. If he does, he won't wear the elegant War of 1812 costume – the Army eliminated the War of 1812 and Spanish-American War from the parade after running into trouble with the costuming process.
The July 11 show at Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall, located just across the river in Virginia from where the parade will take place in Washington, D.C. within days, also had a special appearance from the Golden Knights – Army parachutists that will also sail down from the skies during the parade. The troupe's team leader will present President Donald Trump – whose 79th birthday is the day of the parade – with a folded flag.
"It's exhilarating," said Sgt. Justin Drake, one of the Golden Knights that will parachuted in the Twilight Tattoo, and will also jump in the parade. "As you get about 2000 feet above, you can actually hear everyone screaming, and that motivates you to hit that small target."
As the Twilight Tattoo wrapped up, groups of schoolchildren mobbed soldiers on the field, eager for a photo op holding the model weapons used for the performance. Standing in the sea of people, Private Jonathan Cole wore a Gulf War-era camouflage uniform and held a model machine gun.
"It's pretty cool," said Cole of the parade. Cole learned he would be one of the soldiers to march roughly three weeks ago, but not outfitted in the relative comfort of the Gulf War costume. Instead, he'll either tout a musket as one of the "colonials" or will march with the War of 1812 group "with the funny hats."
To Healy, his costume feels like "pajamas." Healy auditioned directly into the the Army's Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, a unique unit that reenacts military music of the period wearing uniforms dating back to around 1784, including powder-white wigs.
"This is what they would have worn," said Healy of his costume.
For Healy, who grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, the birthplace of the American revolution, participating in the July 14 parade holds special significance.
"Every single time I get to put this on... I always think about who wore this stuff before me, and it almost connects me back to them," he said.