The United States Army’s 250th-anniversary parade served as an early America250 celebration in 2025.
The parade took place on June 14, 2025, commemorating the Army’s establishment on June 14, 1775. That anniversary made the event a natural lead-in to the United States semiquincentennial, which celebrates the nation’s independence in 2026.
The Army was created by the Second Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War, before the Declaration of Independence was adopted. It is commonly described as the oldest of the six branches of the United States Armed Forces. The parade was held in Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and included soldiers, vehicles, aircraft, horses, and musical units.
The event should not be confused with the 2026 anniversary of the nation itself. The Army’s 250th birthday concerns the military organization founded in 1775, while America250 concerns 250 years since the 1776 independence declaration. Both celebrations happen one year apart and use the number 250.