WARSAW, Poland (AP) — American tanks and soldiers have taken part in a yearly military parade in Warsaw, a symbolic show of increased U.S. military involvement in a region shaken by a more assertive Russia.

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the U.S. Army commander in Europe, said the U.S. participation in Poland's armed forces national holiday Monday underlines the increased presence that the U.S. plans in Poland and elsewhere in the region.

He said: "Poland got a look of what they are going to see a lot of in the future — a U.S. army presence that is substantial and is going to be ongoing."

The Aug. 15 holiday marks Poland's victory over Russian Bolsheviks in 1920 near Warsaw.