This Parade Isn’t Power—It’s Performance
We served with honor—this display serves something else.
📝 The Gist
Today, President Trump’s military parade marches through Washington, D.C., showcasing power with tanks, aircraft, and troops.
Across the country, more than 2,000 “No Kings” protests march too—but with a different message.
As a veteran, I honor our troops. I also reject the use of their service as political theater.
This isn’t strength. It’s spectacle.
Today, my beloved brothers and sisters in arms are pulling on their highly polished boots. They’re tugging stray threads—Irish pennants—off their sleeves, making sure every detail is inspection ready.
My sailors are reaching for their neckerchiefs—the ones tied once, perfectly, and always put away for the next duty.
It’s not just part of the uniform—it’s ritual.
Folded corner to corner. Rolled just right.
Tied into a square knot at the V of the jumper, just as the regs demand. No cheater knots.
Worn with precision. Worn with pride.
Rifles are being checked. Rechecked.
Some troops are figuring out how late they can eat and still make it through the hours ahead without a latrine break. Some will sleep until it’s time to form up. Others will stay busy—anything to quiet the nerves, to push back the rising edge of agitation.
And for what?
I say this with deep love for those who serve—those still in uniform, and those of us who’ve hung it up.
Our military is something to be proud of—disciplined, skilled, and unmatched.
But using them like chess pieces in a political parade doesn’t honor their strength.
It doesn’t make us look powerful.
It makes us look insecure.
We are the most powerful nation on earth. We don’t need to show off.
Weak nations rattle their swords.
That’s what I was taught.
That’s what I believe.
The Parade
At 6:30 PM ET, Constitution Avenue in D.C. becomes a stage for military spectacle:
6,600+ active duty troops
Over 150 armored vehicles and missile systems
Vintage and modern aircraft flying in formation
A strict 18-mile security perimeter around the capital
The Trump administration calls it a “celebration of strength and unity.” But for many of us who wore the uniform, it feels performative. Wasteful. Unsettling.
“Tanks in the street don’t scream unity. They scream control.”
(As many veterans feel today.)
There are no “No Kings” protests scheduled in Washington, D.C. today.
Organizers deliberately avoided the capital to maintain a symbolic contrast with the military display.
🪧 The Protests
Over 2,000 “No Kings” protests are taking place today across the U.S.—from rural counties to city plazas.
“We are the check and balance.”
Marches are being held outside D.C. by design—not to confront, but to contrast.
Protesters include veterans, immigrants, students, clergy, and caretakers.
Their message is rooted in our founding ideals:
No Kings. No Tyrants. No Crowns.
“We don’t protest the troops. We protest being used as props in someone else’s power play.”
Expressed by many veterans across the nation today.
🔍 Why It Matters
This is more than a parade.
It’s a message.
And so is the response.
What does patriotism look like in 2025?
Can dissent coexist with duty?
What happens when the rifles salute while the people are silenced?
These are the questions we’ll be wrestling with long after the streets clear.
🧭 Stay Informed
I’ll be tracking events throughout the day and sharing updates on:
Ground reports from protest organizers and veterans
National Guard deployments or law enforcement activity
Statements from the VA, DoD, and federal officials
If you’re seeing something in your town—photos, thoughts, feelings—drop a comment or reply. Comments are open to all subscribers today. I want to hear from every voice willing to share. 🙏
This is our moment.
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🎖️ Tbird
Founder, HadIt.com Veterans
Editor, Tbird’s Quiet Fight