Comment & Opinion, Opinion
June 18, 2025
Other Voices: As a veteran, I must respond
As a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, I have held my tongue long enough. But the comment (by a speaker at Saturday’s local No Kings rally, which was covered by The Bradford Era) comparing the Washington, D.C. celebration of the Army’s 250th anniversary to “a parade better suited to Tiananmen Square, Red Square, or North Korea” is not only misguided — it’s deeply offensive.
Let me be clear: the Army parade held on Saturday was not about politics or power. It was about honoring service, sacrifice and the history of the U.S. Army across generations. This parade, which had been approved before President Trump took office, was a moving tribute to the men and women who have served in every American conflict. It showcased the evolution of our Army, from the Revolutionary War to the present day.
What I saw were families lining the streets, children waving flags and citizens showing respect. And what those children saw were heroes — soldiers who have stood in defense of freedom, many of whom have done so at significant personal cost. For anyone to compare such a moment of patriotism and remembrance to totalitarian displays of military power is not only wrong — it is a disservice to every American who has worn the uniform.
Those who marched in that parade did so with pride, not for a political party or leader, but for the honor of serving the greatest nation on Earth. To reduce their efforts and symbolism to anything less is, frankly, un-American.
Ron Orris, Bradford
