President Trump marked the 250th anniversary of the Army with a military parade in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, which was also Mr. Trump's 79th birthday. Crowds gathered to watch the parade of troops and military vehicles along the National Mall,

In May 1865, the national government threw itself a parade. It had been more than a month since the rebellion in defense of slavery was finally put down. It had been more than a month since the assassination of Abraham Lincoln shook the feeling of triumph.