Support included nearly 100,000 bottles of water from Spartan Nash and snacks from Overseas Sales Corporation 

A long history of AAFES, DeCA and American industry support of the Army in providing support since the Army and the Nation’s founding 

President Trump and other National and military leaders will be on hand to review the parade and celebrate the Army Anniversary 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Neary 7,500 soldiers with their equipment have descended on the Nation’s Capital to participate in a June 14 parade to celebrate the Army’s 250th Anniversary.

To support these troops, the American Logistics Association asked commissary and exchange suppliers to provide water and shelf-stable snack products for these Soldiers.

The 250th Anniversary celebrations highlight a long tradition of support by ALA federal partners—the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the Defense Commissary agency in making sure that soldiers and families have what they need and when they need it…to include a AAFES Mobile Field Exchange on the National Mall for the 250th celebration.

ALA put out a May 29 call to industry to augment support for the thousands of soldiers in D.C for the parade who are housed in Federal buildings.    Spartan Nash stepped forward with nearly 100,000 bottles of  Freedom’s Choice water to aid the troops in the event along with Overseas Sales Corporation providing snacks for the troops.

The industry donations were worked with the Department of the Army joint National Capital Region task force comprised of logistics experts and organizers of the event.

“The parade was an extraordinary deployment for the Army,” said Steve Rossetti, President of the American Logistics Association.  “The troops were housed in Federal buildings sleeping on cots and with limited access to commercial food offerings and other comforts.  As a Washington-based organization, we wanted to do what we could to help out as they descended on our hometown,” Rossetti said.  “We were very gratified at the support of Spartan Nash and other industry members who pitched in to provide an extra level of comfort.”  “A special call-out to the entire Spartan team for their extraordinary efforts to work with the ALA and the Army to aid the parade.”   “ALA also congratulates DeCA and AAFES on their tradition of supporting solders and families and the partnership of American industry in this noble mission.”

The soldiers are being housed in the Department of Agriculture building and a General Services Administration building.   Additionally, some are being housed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.  The Military providing support for eating, sleeping, and showering, while government buildings provide the space.

AAFES is providing a Mobile Field Exchange which is supporting the accompanying festival that is being held on the National Mall on June 14.

During his first term, Trump asked the Pentagon to plan a military parade with the armed forces that never came to fruition.  Such parades have been rare in modern American history. In 1991, the country held a Gulf War victory celebration in Washington, D.C., that included a parade with troops, tanks and military aircraft flyovers.

For events leading up to the June 14 parade, the service members will be given three meals each day, including one hot meal, along with a $50 daily stipend, and showers . Troops will sleep in sleeping bags and cots.

Vince Haley, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said that the event will be one of the first to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, which takes place next year.

“As one of the first events of the year-long celebration of our 250th anniversary, this commemorative parade will be a fitting tribute to the service, sacrifice, and selflessness of the brave men and women who have worn the uniform and devoted their lives to defending the greatest experiment in liberty known to man,” Haley said.

The parade will include 120 military vehicles in town for the event, including 24 Abrams tanks and howitzer cannons.

President Donald Trump is expected to observe the parade from a viewing stand along Constitution Avenue near the White House. The parade will conclude with fireworks at dusk, USA Today reported.

“We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world,” Trump said. “We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we’re going to celebrate it.”

The Military resale system including its supporting industry partners have a deep and rich history with the Army.

AAFES has been supporting the Army for 130 years.    Today, the Exchange operates more than 5,500 facilities nationwide and in more than 30 countries, supporting millions of military families, retirees and veterans.

“The modern Exchange benefit began as the Army Exchange Service,” said Exchange Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Shull, an Army veteran and U.S. Military Academy graduate. “For 13 decades, ‘Team Exchange’ has been truly honored to serve Soldiers and families, wherever the Army mission required.”

During deployments, the Exchange delivers food, water, clothing and even entertainment, ensuring Soldiers are mission ready.

This support extends to contingency operations, where a nested approach to strategy and execution allows for pre-positioning of essential items such as water, batteries, flashlights, etc.

Whether it is during a combat operation, humanitarian mission or training exercise, the Exchange goes wherever the Army goes.

One of the most significant ways the Exchange contributes to the Army’s mission is by strengthening recruiting, readiness and retention.

In 2024 alone, the Exchange outfitted nearly 640,000 combat uniforms, served more than 3.4 million school lunches to military children and bottled more than 4.1 million gallons of water for troops and families overseas.

“The Exchange builds lasting support systems that sustain families; provide meaningful career opportunities for veterans and military spouses; and strengthen the overall readiness of our forces,” Shull said. “The Exchange is fully nested, and evolving, with current and future Army priorities.

The Defense Commissary Agency also is honoring the Army’s 250th Anniversary.  The roots of the commissary benefit were laid down, when the Continental Congress created two supply offices — the Commissary General and the Commissary General of Stores and Provisions.  On July 19, 1775, Congress appointed Joseph Trumbull, the son of Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull, as commissary general.

“Commissaries have been in lock step with the Army throughout its 250 years,” said Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John E. Hall.

“We want all our soldiers — active duty, reservists, retirees and their family members along with disabled veterans and their caregivers — to know DeCA celebrates them every day by delivering the commissary benefit they’ve earned,” he said.

 “As an Army veteran, I’m excited to celebrate this momentous occasion. I also hope everyone connected to the Army community is excited about the commissary benefit they and their predecessors have earned through their dedicated service and sacrifice. That benefit offers savings of at least 25 percent compared to prices at ‘outside the gate’ grocery stores.”

Beginning on July 1, 1867, Congress authorized the Army to sell goods at cost from its subsistence warehouses to officers and enlisted men alike.

This is considered the start of the modern commissary benefit. No geographical restrictions were placed on these sales, which could take place at all Army posts.

By 1990, Congress and the Defense Department decided to consolidate the individual service commissary systems into one agency.

The newly formed Defense Commissary Agency officially took control of 411 military commissaries and multiple related operations, such as Air Force troop support operations and sales to U.S. Embassy personnel, on Oct. 1, 1991.

Today, of DeCA’s 235 commissaries, 76 are on Army installations.

ALA’s Larry Lapka contributed to this story.