Reflecting on Washington’s Last Military Parade: The 1991 National Victory Celebration

The parade kicked off with a dramatic flyover by an F-117 stealth fighter as thousands of U.S. service members began a 3.5-mile procession starting from Capitol Hill.

Held on June 8, 1991, the National Victory Celebration was the last large-scale military parade in Washington D.C. for decades. It commemorated the conclusion of Operation Desert Storm and highlighted the impressive capabilities of the U.S. and coalition forces after successfully driving the Iraqi military out of Kuwait following a campaign of air strikes and a brief ground offensive.

Following the stealth fighter’s passage along the National Mall, the parade featured more than a dozen helicopters from the Army and Navy, accompanied by a Marine Corps OV-10 Bronco observation aircraft.

An estimated hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the route as over 8,000 active duty and reserve personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and a civilian contingent from the Merchant Marine marched along Constitution Avenue. The procession crossed Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River, concluding at the Pentagon.

Early in the route, the troops passed beneath a massive yellow ribbon that was suspended above the street by cranes, symbolizing support for the military.

Plans are underway for a new military parade in Washington, set to commemorate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. This event is scheduled to take place on a day that also marks the birthday of the sitting president, who has publicly expressed enthusiasm about the forthcoming celebration.