The United States Army was founded on June 14, 1775, a milestone featured in its 250th-anniversary parade.
The Continental Congress created the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. June 14, 1775, is recognized as the Army’s founding date, making 2025 its 250th anniversary. The date is also associated with Flag Day, which is observed annually in the United States.
The Army’s 250th Birthday Grand Military Parade took place on June 14, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. It was described as a soft launch of the wider celebrations leading toward the United States’ semiquincentennial in 2026.
The Army’s anniversary is not the same as the country’s independence anniversary. The Army predates the Declaration of Independence by more than a year, while the U.S. Navy was established later, on October 13, 1775.