Which U.S. military branch celebrated its 250th birthday on June 14, 2025?

The United States Army celebrated its 250th birthday on June 14, 2025.

The Continental Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence. That anniversary is commemorated as the Army’s birthday, making June 14, 2025, its 250th anniversary. The date also became the annual observance now known as the Army Birthday.

The 2025 celebration preceded the national America250 milestone in 2026. This is because the Army was established in 1775, while the United States’ 250th anniversary centers on the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The two anniversaries are related but mark different historical events.

A major parade and celebration took place in the Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Virginia, area. The event formed part of the wider sequence of commemorations leading into the national semiquincentennial.