Martian V.F.W.

"Martian V.F.W." by G. L. Vandenburg is a science fiction story where Earth's biggest parade gets a wild surprise when Martian ants show up demanding to march. Mr. Cruthers, the stressed-out parade organizer, is thrown for a loop by these giant ants who claim to be Martian war veterans. At first, people are just amused by their strange appearance and funny behavior, especially the clowns among them. A father and son watching the parade are drawn into the spectacle just like everyone else. But the fun quickly turns serious when it turns out the ants have a hidden, dangerous plan involving super-isonic rays. The story blends quirky humor with dark surprises to show how unaware humans can be when facing the unknown from outer space and what the extraterrestrial conflict might bring.