This Saturday, Washington, D.C., will host its first large-scale military parade in more than three decades to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. The event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of attendees to the National Mall. Coincidentally, the parade also falls on former President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
The last time a parade of this size took place in the capital was in 1991, during the National Victory Celebration held after the Persian Gulf War. The conflict began in January 1991 with a coordinated air assault on Baghdad, following the United Nations’ support for a multinational coalition responding to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
The military campaign, known as “Operation Desert Storm,” ended swiftly. Allied forces liberated Kuwait and advanced into Iraq before halting operations. Then-President George H. W. Bush opted not to continue toward Baghdad, adhering to the coalition’s original objectives.
The 1991 victory parade stretched from the U.S. Capitol to Arlington National Cemetery. It featured approximately 8,000 service members, along with vehicles such as M1 Abrams tanks and aircraft used during the operation. The event evoked patriotic imagery, drawing comparisons to World War II-era parades.
While the 1991 event faced some criticism over its $12 million cost and its military display, public sentiment was largely supportive. Isolated protests occurred but were quickly managed without significant disruption.
In contrast to the reception experienced by veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars, Gulf War veterans were welcomed home with public celebrations across the United States. Surveys at the time indicated that most Americans viewed the military intervention as justified.
Nevertheless, the political momentum from the Gulf War victory did not endure. In the following year, economic challenges and a competitive presidential race — which included emerging candidates — reshaped the political landscape ahead of the 1992 election.
