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**Washington, DC**, is bracing for a spectacle like no other as millions of pounds of military hardware are set to roll through its streets in less than two weeks. The unprecedented event, a dream of President Donald Trump, will feature tanks, fighting vehicles, and artillery pieces, posing concerns about potential damage to the city’s infrastructure.

The parade on **June 14** is expected to be the largest military procession the city has seen in decades, featuring M1-A1 Abrams tanks, Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles, Howitzers, and other artillery. Nearly 7,000 soldiers will participate in the event, with military vehicles and equipment weighing roughly 7 million pounds making their way to the nation's capital.

Most of the heavy equipment is currently en route to **Maryland** from **Fort Cavazos** in **Texas**, arriving by train at the rail station in **Jessup, Maryland** early next week. From there, the hardware will be transported on flatbed trucks to DC. To ensure the city's roads can handle the tremendous weight, the **US Army Corps of Engineers** has been busy this week reinforcing several streets along the parade route.

Efforts to mitigate potential damage include laying down steel plates in key locations, especially where sharp turns may occur, and fitting new track pads on every vehicle to reduce pressure on the roads. The total cost of these efforts has already surpassed $3 million, while the entire parade could run up to $45 million, as per Army officials’ estimates.

**Col. Jesse Curry**, the director of the Office of the Chief of Engineers, stated that extensive work with various agencies and utility companies has taken place to protect DC’s infrastructure. Steel plates have been laid in about a dozen locations, and special matting will be used in **West Potomac Park** for staging the tanks before the parade.

Despite the careful planning, there are still some concerns about potential risks to underground gas lines, particularly on the route from Jessup to the National Mall holding area. However, the Army Corps of Engineers assures that the likelihood of significant damage is very low.

The parade itself marks the **Army’s 250th birthday** and has been planned for two years. President Trump’s push for a comprehensive military display only took shape around **two months** ago, narrowing down to an Army-centric event to reduce costs and complexity. Originally, a proposal for an all-military services parade was discarded due to a projected cost of up to $100 million and the potential for severe damage to the streets.

The route will start near the **Lincoln Memorial** on Constitution Avenue, proceed east to 15th Street, and end at the corner of 15th and Independence Avenue. The event will also include an extensive flyover, featuring more than 50 helicopters, including AH-64 Apaches, UH-60 Black Hawks, and CH-47 Chinooks.

With calculated steps to ensure minimal damage and a spectacular display of military might, Washington, DC, is preparing for an event that promises to be historic both in scale and significance.