After more than a year of the COVID-19 pandemic looming upon the United States, authorities were forced to cancel the fourth of July parade in Washington DC, one of the most awaited events in the United States. The parade was also called off last year, when the virus was picking up pace across the globe. 

The National Park Service, the body which leads the organisational efforts for the parade, said on Thursday that the participants did not have enough preparation time in addition to the lack of fundraising and travelling opportunities. The spokesperson for the National Park Service called the event cancellation “collateral damage” of the pandemic. 

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Washington DC, the national capital of the US, has also had rising security concerns as multiple incidents of violence have been recorded in the area, starting from the January 6 riots, the discovery of pipe bombs near key government buildings and the recent fatal attack which killed a US Capitol Police officer. 

The parade, under normal circumstances, consists of diverse participation from volunteers of youth organisations, high school bands, drill teams among others. The National Park Service said in a statement that the event would be dull “without the excitement and sound provided by these high school bands, drill teams and other youth organizations”, reported The Washington Post.

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However, the National Park Service said that the hope for a grand celebration, along with the excitement to cherish the “red, white and blue” of the Star-Spangled Banner continues for July 4, 2022. 

While the United States has accelerated its efforts to curb the spread of the virus through enhancing the vaccine mechanisms in the country while introducing a mass rollout, the country remains to be the worst impacted in the world, in terms of the death toll.