Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 2 July 2019
NO TANKS
Continued from Front
"You've got to be pretty
careful with the tanks be-
cause the roads have a
tendency not to like to
carry heavy tanks," he said.
"So we have to put them in
certain areas, but we have
the brand new Sherman
tanks and we have the
brand new Abrams tanks."
Sherman tanks were the
tank most widely used by
the U.S. during World War
II, but they have been out
of service for decades. The
M1A1 Abrams tank is cur-
rently the main U.S. battle
tank.
Two M1A1 Abrams tanks
and two Bradley Fighting
Vehicles will be on display
as part of Trump's "Salute to
America" event, according
to a U.S. official who spoke
on condition of anonymity
because details of the ex-
hibits have not been made
public.
The Abrams tanks weigh
more than 60 tons apiece
and were been shipped on President Donald Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence, left, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, right,
railroad freight cars, from speaks during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 1, 2019.
Fort Stewart, Georgia, the Associated Press
nearest Army base that has
them. The White House de- Lima, Ohio, where M1A1 Trump's investments in de- country and it's a salute to members of the military,
clined to release more spe- Abrams tanks are refur- fense spending. America." the White House said.
cific information. bished. The plant had "We have some incredible "I'm going to say a few Last year, Trump and his
Trump recalled his visit ear- been at risk for closure but equipment, military equip- words and we're going to wife, first lady Melania
lier this year to a plant in remained online due to ment on display — brand have planes going over- Trump, hosted service
new," Trump said. "And head, the best fighter jets in members and their families
we're very proud of it. You the world and other planes, at a picnic on the White
know we're making a lot of too," he said. House lawn and the presi-
new tanks right now. We're Trump plans to deliver a dent addressed guests
building a lot of new tanks speech at the Lincoln Me- from the balcony. No similar
in Lima, Ohio — our great morial during his "Salute event is being planned this
tank factory that people to America," which has year. Federal lawmakers,
wanted to close down until been added to the regu- local officials and others
I got elected and I stopped lar schedule of Indepen- have voiced concerns that
it from being closed down, dence Day events in the Trump could alter the tone
and now it's a very produc- nation's capital. The an- of what traditionally is a
tive facility." nual fireworks display will nonpartisan celebration of
Thursday's events are also go off closer to the Lincoln America's independence
expected to include a mili- Memorial instead of the from the British by delivering
tary demonstration by the Washington Monument, as a political speech. Trump
U.S. Navy Blue Angels and has been the long-standing formally announced his bid
other aircraft. tradition. for re-election in June.
"We're going to have a The event is open to the Interior Secretary David
great Fourth of July in public and free of charge, Bernhardt, who oversees
Washington, D.C. It'll be but a ticket-only area in the National Mall and has
like no other," Trump said. front of the memorial is helped orchestrate the
"It'll be special and I hope being set aside for VIPs, president's vision, and other
a lot of people come. And including members of officials have said Trump's
it's going to be about this Trump's family, friends and remarks will be patriotic.q