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Connections

Assessing the impact of Saturday's military parade in Washington

Three smiling men wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a man at right has short white hair, a white beard and mustache, and is wearing glasses and a light blue polo shirt; a man at center has short white hair and is wearing glasses and a white button-down shirt; a man at right has short dark hair and is wearing a grey polka dot shirt, jeans, and white sneakers
Mari Tsuchiya
/
WXXI News
Lou Wayne and John White, Jr. with host Evan Dawson on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Monday, June 16, 2025
A smiling man with short dark hair wearing a blue button-down shirt and a grey blazer. He is holding a pair of eyeglasses. The word "Connections" appears on the left side of the photo in vertical letters.
WXXI News

The U.S. Army marked its 250th anniversary with a parade in Washington this past weekend.

The event was heavily touted by President Trump and his advisors, and it coincided with President Trump's 79th birthday. Tanks rolled down the street and helicopters flew overhead in an event that failed to fill all the grandstands but still drew thousands.

So what is the overall effect? Is it a recruiting tool and generator of patriotism, like the White House says? Was it worth the cost of $45 million?

Our guests discuss it:

  • John White, Jr., former infantry captain with the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1973
  • Lou Wayne, Vietnam veteran

Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.