US troops to march in Spanish military parade

US troops carrying the American flag were to march today in a Spanish military parade for the first time in three years, a sign of rapprochement between two countries divided over the Iraq war.

The Madrid parade marks a national holiday called the Dia de la Hispanidad, which commemorates Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World and is also armed forces day.

Today’s version started with a paratrooper trailing a Spanish flag falling from the sky and landing right in front of a podium occupied by King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and other members of the royal family.