Thousands flocked to the nation’s capital Monday for the Memorial Day parade, with attendees gathering for the first of many official 250th anniversary celebrations taking place this summer.
High school bands from Arkansas to Massachusetts busted out patriotic tunes such as “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “The Liberty Bell March” as veterans from Operation Desert Storm and the Vietnam and Korean wars boarded floats to wave at the scores of people lining Constitution Avenue Northwest.
Hundreds of people camped out on the steps of the National Archives, the official parade starting point, as MCs announced the next group to begin marching west toward the Washington Monument.
The weather appeared to take note of the program, with the foggy and drizzly pre-parade conditions, which have lingered for several days, clearing up in time for the 10 a.m. start.
Light rain resumed on cue as the crowds thinned out three hours later.
National pride was beaming from the families, couples and locals from the D.C. region who lined the parade route, many of whom were decked out in red, white and blue to honor those who gave their lives in the defense of the country.
Amy and Tom Strom flew in from La Crosse, Wisconsin, to join in the Memorial Day weekend festivities near the National Mall.
Mr. Strom’s father fought in World War II and was on a ship near Iwo Jima when Marines famously raised the U.S. flag on the Japanese island in February 1945.
Ms. Strom said the couple went to the National Memorial Day Concert the night before on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and were eager to watch the procession on Monday.
“We are very proud to be here,” Ms. Strom said. “It makes you realize the sacrifices that were made 250 years ago were part of an amazing experiment that is still working today.”
Some other paradegoers felt the event could have used a bit more sizzle.
Kenley Bowyer, who was in town with her husband from Lafayette, Indiana, complimented President Trump’s efforts to deck out the District with flags marking the nation’s 250th birthday.
But she said organizers could have set off fireworks or, jokingly, suggested that they have a bald eagle fly overhead to bring up the energy.
Attendees who remember America’s 200th celebration back in 1976 said there was a change in the enthusiasm as well.
Steve Fontaine, a Navy veteran who took the Metro in from his home in Arlington, blamed part of the dampened atmosphere on the dreary weather.
But he also said unspecified changes in the “demographics of the paradegoers” over the last 50 years contributed to the more subdued vibe of the anniversary.
Another woman, who asked not to be named but said she flew in from Australia to visit her District-based son, hinted that Mr. Trump’s return to the White House soured some of the patriotic fervor she had seen in prior visits to the U.S.
For parade participants, however, they noticed an extra dose of excitement among the crowd compared to years past.
Marquett Milton, a staffer at the African American Civil War Memorial Museum, said the aura of America 250 translated into more people coming to see the festivities themselves.
As for his own organization’s participation, in which the members don uniforms of the District-based 1st United States Colored Infantry regiment, he said, typically, only five or six members march in the parade.
This year, however, he said, more than 15 members dressed up for the role.
Mr. Milton, a native Washingtonian, said his help with the African American Civil War Memorial Museum is meant to educate people about the role Black Americans played in reuniting the country following its deadliest conflict.
“We’re part of American history,” he said. “The nation was divided during the institution of slavery during the Civil War, and because we helped end it, we brought the country together. That’s what [President Abraham] Lincoln wanted — to be a whole country and not separated.”
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