The United States Army's 250th Anniversary Parade began at the Pentagon before proceeding toward the National Mall.
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense and one of the most recognizable military buildings in the Washington metropolitan area. Its position across the Potomac River from central Washington made it a fitting starting point for an Army anniversary procession.
The parade then crossed into Washington, D.C., following a route that reached the National Mall. The event combined ceremonial marching with military vehicles, aircraft, horses, parachutists and musical performances.
The starting point is sometimes confused with the parade’s endpoint or with nearby landmarks. The National Mall was the destination area, while Arlington National Cemetery and the White House were important Washington-area sites that were not the parade’s starting point. The route was part of the event’s symbolic connection between the Defense Department and the national capital.