LETTERS TO THE EDITOR _________.. ________ _______ __ .____.____ ________
The U.S. Army is set to hold a “Grand Military Parade” on June 14 to commemorate its 250th anniversary. June 14 is U.S. President Donald Trump’s birthday, and many are anticipating based on history that this event may morph into a homage to our current president.
The parade will include more than 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles, 50 helicopters and performances from seven military bands. Army officials have not disclosed the total cost for the celebration, but estimates range from $25 to $45 million.
This is not supposed to happen in a democracy. This is what dictators do, and we do not need further evidence of Trump’s ambitions to use the military for his own benefit.
The GOP in the house just approved billions in cuts to SNAP and Medicaid while granting a huge tax cut to the multi-millionaire doners. Perhaps instead of spending those parade millions on a parade, that money would be better spent on food for the hungry, medical research, or assisting all the thousands of federal workers Trump and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) so callously fired in the pretense of cutting fraud and abuse?
Vivian Lenski Huntley, Illinois
