How the Army is celebrating its 250th birthday, aside from a parade in Washington

A mass of flags being held up by uniformed soldiers in berets.

U.S. soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division hold up American flags during a speech by Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll at Fort Bragg, N.C., June 10, 2025. Driscoll was speaking for the base’s Army 250 birthday celebration, which was also attended by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Austin Robertson/U.S. Army)

The U.S. Army, the largest and oldest branch of the U.S. armed forces, celebrates its 250th birthday on Saturday.

The service dates its origin to a June 14, 1775, resolution by the Continental Congress that called for the establishment of a united fighting force between the 13 colonies, making it older than the nation itself. George Washington was appointed its commander-in-chief the day after.

The Army’s main birthday event will be a celebration in the nation’s capital on Saturday. The Washington event consists of a parade on the National Mall, as well as a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and a fitness competition, among other things.

It was preceded by a large celebration at Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Tuesday, attended by President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

But smaller celebrations and related activities were held across the country in the weeks leading up to the official day, and some festivities will even take place after.

Marches and runs

Ruck marches extending over 250 miles were held at numerous Army installations, as were runs.

Some were early: civilians and soldiers at Camp Roberts, Calif., did a ruck march in early May. Others came closer to the official birthday, such as the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan., which held a division-wide run on June 9.

At Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii, over 6,000 soldiers from installations across the state joined together for a motivational run on Monday. The event was simulcast with soldiers deployed in the Philippines, in a first. The soldiers in the Philippines held their own run.

Soldiers and a civilian, seen from a distance, march along a dirt path in a grassy field that stretches into the distance.

U.S. Army troops and a civilian march during the 250-mile ruck march at Camp Roberts, Calif., May 7, 2025. Participants completed different sections of a route that stretched from Camp Roberts to Camp Parks in Dublin, Calif., all while carrying the U.S. flag, U.S. Army colors, and a binder with over 500,000 names of fallen service members. (William Franco Espinosa/U.S. Army National Guard)

A group of soldiers, seen from the front, march up a grassy hill. Two are carrying flags.

Soldiers participate in a 250-mile ruck march at Camp Roberts, Calif., May 7, 2025. Participants completed different sections of a route that stretched from Camp Roberts to Camp Parks in Dublin, Calif., all while carrying the U.S. flag, U.S. Army colors, and a binder with over 500,000 names of fallen service members. (William Franco Espinosa/U.S. Army National Guard)

A group of soldiers in black shirts and shorts walk along a road.

U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii Soldiers finishing a commemorative run on June 9, 2025, at Schofield Barracks. (Eric Tagayuna/U.S. Army)

Rows of soldiers in black shirts and shorts saluting in formation.

U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division express esprit de corps with a run in celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday on Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, June 10, 2025. Members of the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii also participated in a run that was simulcast to their colleagues in the Philippines. (Brandon Roland/U.S. Army)

Exhibits

Soldiers with the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), Vanguard, at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland contributed personal belongings to create a commemorative exhibit. The contributions were voluntary and include family belongings, some of which reflect a lineage of military service dating to the Civil War and Revolutionary War.

The National Museum of the United States Army unveiled a temporary exhibit on the Revolutionary War on June 7. The exhibit, which features nearly 300 artifacts from the era, will be up for two years.

On the day of the birthday, the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., will open an exhibit commemorating the birthday.

Though it won’t unveil a new exhibit, the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Ga., is hosting a birthday party on June 14.

A revolutionary war cast figure stands at the entrance of an exhibit

The “Call to Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War,” exhibit offically opens to the public at the National Museum of the United States Army, Fort Belvoir, Va., June 7, 2025. The two-year exhibit commemorates the Army’s 250th anniversary and America’s declaration of independence in 2026. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)

A man crosses his arms and looks at artifacts behind a display case

A visitor looks at artifacts behind a display case during the National Museum of the United States Army’s two-year exhibit, “Call to Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War,” at Fort Belvoir, Va., June 7, 2025. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)

Posters, helmets and other assorted items adorn a row of tables next to a wall.

An exhibit of personal memorabilia contributed by members of the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), Vanguard at Fort George G. Meade, Md. The exhibit honors the Army’s 250th birthday and has items dating back to the Revolutionary War. (Steven Stover/U.S. Army)

Performances and games

A month before the celebration, the 100th Army Band, joined by members of the 338th Army Band and 208th Army Band, performed at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. The performance honored the Army’s 250th birthday and the 100th anniversary of the Grand Olde Opry.

Soldiers at Fort Bliss and their families played a softball game in honor of the birthday in El Paso, Texas, on June 7.

U.S. Army Pacific hosted a polo match with players from the Honolulu Polo Club a day later at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting a Twilight Tattoo performance at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., on June 18. The event is free and open to the public, and showcases the service’s history through historical uniforms, drills and music.

Two polo players on horses, with both animals running and the riders leaning down.

Members ofthe Honolulu Polo Club play polo on June 8, 2025, at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, in a game hosted by U.S. Army Pacific in celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday. (Tristan Moore/U.S. Army)

Members ofthe Honolulu Polo Club play polo on June 8, 2025, at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, in a game hosted by U.S. Army Pacific in celebration of the Army's 250th birthday. (Tristan Moore/U.S. Army)

Soldiers performing on stage, with some on the drums and some on pipes.

Members of the 100th Army Band, 338th Army Band and 208th Army Band perform the Army Song during the Salute the Troops show at the historic Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee, May 20, 2025. (Rodney Roldan/U.S. Army Reserve)

Related birthdays

Soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Ky., are celebrating their division’s birthday with their long-running Week of the Eagles. The 101st was activated in August of 1942, but this year’s Week of the Eagles runs from June 9 to June 15, overlapping with the service-wide milestone. Festivities culminate with a concert, air assault demonstration and an Army birthday cake-cutting on Saturday.

The Army Chaplain Corps is also celebrating its 250th birthday — though the corps dates its founding to July 29, 1775, rather than June 14. It is the second oldest military chaplaincy organization in the world, according to a service press release.

Various celebrations may take place throughout the summer. The Indiana National Guard will hold a celebration for the Chaplain Corps on July 11.

Soldiers in black shirts and shorts running with helicopters flying overhead.

Soldiers across the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) kick off the annual Week of the Eagles with a division run at Fort Campbell, Ky., on June 9, 2025. (Vincent Levelev/U.S. Army)

Three soldiers in a helicopter flying overhead, with one waving to people below.

Soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) kick off the annual Week of the Eagles at Fort Campbell, Ky., on June 9, 2025. (Vincent Levelev/U.S. Army)