During his visit to Germany from June 23 to 26, 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy inspected a formation of American soldiers in an open presidential motorcade. The lined-up troop units with flags and the visible insignia of U.S. Army Europe indicate a visit to the U.S. armed forces stationed in Germany. Such troop visits were part of the official program and underscored the continuing military presence of the United States in the Federal Republic as a sign of Western alliance strength during the Cold War.