Vocabulary

honor	capitol	Union (2)
critic	victory	campaign
stunt	tradition	anniversary
grand	parade	inaugural
troops	show (2)	review (2)
salute	missile	Pennsylvania Avenu
waste	airborne	division (3)
golf	taxpayer	lead/led/lead
across	celebrate	lead the way
sign	Civil War	bicentennial
gulf	follow (2)	march (2)
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Video

 

 
 
 

Transcript

President Trump calls his “Salute to America” on the July 4th the “show of a lifetime”, and an event to honor the U.S. military.

Critics call it a campaign stunt and a waste of taxpayer money.

What it’s not, however, is a first.

The U.S. tradition of military parades actually dates back to the U.S. Civil War.

1865

In May 1865, the Grand Review of Union troops marched down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol following the end of the Civil War.

1919

A year after World War I ended, the 2nd Division paraded through the streets of D.C. and New York City.

1946

In January 1946, after the end of World War II, the 82nd Airborne Division led the Victory Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

1961

Missiles and tanks lead the way down Pennsylvania Avenue during President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural parade in January 1961.

1976

Cities across the country celebrated the American Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed.

1991

Following the end of the Persian Gulf War, soldiers marched while tanks rolled through the D.C. streets during the National Gulf War Victory Celebration Parade.

 

 

Questions

1. U.S. President Trump says he wants to have a national military parade to show the world how strong and powerful the America is. True or false?

2. Do all Americans fully support Trump?

3. Is a U.S. military parade unprecedented? Does the US have an annual military parade?

4. The US only has military parades on the Fourth of July. Is this right or wrong?

5. Where do these big military parades usually take place?

6. Has the nature of U.S. military parades changed over the years? How have they changed?

7. Was this video supportive, critical, both, neither or in the middle regarding US military parades?

 

A. There are military parades in my country. Yes or no? If yes, what dates or events do they commemorate?

B. Is it purely ceremonial or is there some kind of message?

C. What can you say about military parades in the China, France, India, North Korea, Russia, US?

D. There is controversy, debate and arguments over military parades. Yes or no?

E. What could or should nations and governments do?

F. What might happen in the future?