Fox News Digital spoke to attendees of the D.C. military parade, some who had traveled hundreds of miles to participate, about why they had come to the nation’s capital for the event.

The parade, criticized by some Democrats for its high cost and timing on Trump’s 79th birthday, stood in contrast to the thousands of “No Kings” protests across the country and a “Refuse Fascism” demonstration decrying Trump’s policies just blocks from the White House.

The procession, with more than 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, was one Trump tried to make happen in his first term.