Crews Work to Reopen Streets Near National Mall After Parade

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Crews worked Sunday to reopen streets near the National Mall after a parade the night before featured tanks and troops marching through the city.

Constitution Avenue remained mostly open to pedestrians and cyclists. Workers endeavored to restore normalcy after the parade, which drew large crowds celebrating military appreciation.

“It was like the first time I’d ever seen tanks,” said Marianne McKay, who traveled from Norfolk for the event. “It was a way of just showing their appreciation for the military. It wasn’t a political thing. It was really about cheering them on and celebrating them.”

Matt, who attended the parade from New York, described the experience as “surreal” and “amazing.” He noted the excitement of witnessing tanks and military vehicles in person rather than on television.

Dave Anderson, a visitor from Scotland, shared his thoughts on the event, commenting, “I mean the atmosphere was good. Lots of families. We were a bit apprehensive about how it might turn out, but I think in any country you want to honor your military and their contribution to your country’s peace and development.”

While many enjoyed the celebration, some attendees expressed that the large crowd and security measures made it difficult to enjoy the event. “The crowd was, it was interesting to fight through. It was a lot of people,” said Matt. “At one point, people weren’t even able to leave the area as everyone was just going down into the place. They had to call in security and measure things out.”

Despite the challenges, spectators interviewed by WUSA9 indicated that the celebration was worthwhile. “I think I was really pleasantly surprised with how pleasant people were. I mean, I really was. That’s encouraging to see in our divisive country,” said McKay.