Readers respond to Question of the Week: Your thoughts on Trump’s parade?

Why the Trump parade?

I don’t know why the newspaper referred to the recent Army parade as the Trump parade. In June 2024, the U.S. Army filed for a permit to have what they called a grand parade for its 250th anniversary. The parade permit was approved by Joe Biden‘s administration. It is just a coincidence that the Army’s anniversary and Donald Trump’s birthday are both on June 14.

— Paul Hill, Torrance

Celebrating the U.S. Army

The question to the American people should be: Would you rather spend $25 million-$45 million to honor an organization whose members have served, fought and died protecting this country since its beginning; or would you rather give $4 billion of taxpayers money to California to continue funding the fraud that is the bullet train? Pulling the proposed federal funding for the bullet train and applying a fraction of that money on the parade makes fiscal sense while honoring those who serve.

— Pat Smith, Altadena

Army’s 250th anniversary

I was extremely disappointed to see the editorial branding of the parade that celebrated the Army’s 250th anniversary, your newspapers and staffers included. It wasn’t “Trump’s parade.” 250 years is a real milestone. While I may not always agree with what the military does, I do honor our soldiers’ bravery and wish more people would thank them for their service, past and present. After all, wasn’t that what the parade was supposed to be about?

— Jenny Mangelsdorf, Los Angeles

Honoring the U.S. Army

I am taken aback, perplexed and baffled. Are some not aware that hundreds of thousands of soldiers were maimed, with bodies permanently damaged throughout our many wars? Plus the loss and sorrow of their family members. But in this day and age who knows” We do parades and celebrations for Gay Pride Month, Black History Month, Asian Month, and so on, do these “Trump” their acknowledgement? I wonder what the taxpayers pay for such events, with security, etc. A projected parade cost of $25 million-$45 million is peanuts, chump change. This parade was worth every penny spent!

— Bob Walton, Canyon Country