Army
Army celebrates 251 years of service with a weekend full of events
Stars and Stripes
June 11, 2026
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, center, Acting Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve, center left, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael R. Weimer, center right, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Zhao Liu with the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, and Pfc. Alijah Leach with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), prepare to cut the Army birthday cake during a ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., June 10, 2026. (Laura Buchta/U.S. Army)
The nation’s oldest military branch will mark its 251st birthday on Sunday, and there will be celebrations nationwide throughout the weekend honoring the Army’s history and traditions and soldiers past and present.
The Army was founded as the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed. To commemorate the service’s founding, Army installations around the world will host birthday balls, ceremonies and other commemorative events while national celebrations are also planned across the United States.
Here are a few highlights of Army birthday events:
Army Birthday Run (Arlington, Va.): The U.S. Army Military District of Washington will host the annual Army Birthday run on Friday, and it will bring service members and defense department civilians together for a commemorative run starting at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall all the way to Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia. The run will begin at 7:10 a.m. following opening remarks.
AUSA’s Army birthplace plaque unveiling (Philadelphia): The Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission will unveil a new historical marker permanently commemorating the Army’s origins in front of the Public Ledger Building on Sunday. The event is free and open to the public and will begin at 3:15 p.m.
UFC Freedom 250 Weekend (Washington, D.C.): The U.S. Army and Ultimate Fighting Championship are partnering to celebrate the service on a national stage during UFC Freedom 250, an outdoor mixed martial-arts event taking place on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday in Washington beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Tickets are required.
The celebration begins with a free public news conference at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday, followed by a two-day festival with interactive military displays and activities at the Ellipse near the White House. Sunday’s events will begin with a pre-match program highlighting Army combative fighters and military history.
The National WWII Museum (New Orleans): The museum will celebrate the Army on Sunday with free admission for active-duty service and reserve members, Army retirees and veterans. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Army Birthday Wreath-Laying Ceremony (Arlington, Va.): The U.S. Army Military District of Washington will host the Army Birthday Wreath-Laying Ceremony Monday at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m., and is open to the public. A livestream will also be available.
“Army Day” at Washington Nationals Park (Washington, D.C.): Washington Nationals Park’s annual “Army Day” on Monday will honor soldiers, veterans and army families through special tributes and festivities at the ballpark. The event will kick off at 6:45 p.m., with performances by the U.S. Army Parachute and Drill teams. The Nationals will play the Kansas City Royals.
The Washington Nationals will offer complimentary tickets to the game for eligible military and Department of Defense personnel with valid ID, which will be available at the First Base Box Office beginning at 5:30 p.m.
National Museum of the United States Army (Fort Belvoir, Va.): The museum will host weekend-long programs featuring hands-on demonstrations, scavenger hunts and two special exhibitions: “CALL TO Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War” and the “American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition.” The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.