“I think I could do without the tanks”
The Fourth of July, Independence Day, is the celebration of a military victory.
The 4th of July is to celebrate a Declaration of Independence. Victory was still many years away.
I love our military troops in all branches, but I personally could do without celebrations turning into military displays like red square or Pyongyang.
I would rather see some army, navy, air force, and marine units marching in dress uniforms, along with maybe some reenactment units of colonial troops and muskets, each with the colors flying before them. A fly over by the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds would be fine as they already have a show budget anyway.
Would cost a heck of a lot less and still be appropriate.