Which U.S. military branch celebrated its 250th birthday with a Washington-area parade on June 14, 2025?

The United States Army celebrated its 250th birthday with a Washington-area parade on June 14, 2025.

The Army’s 250th birthday falls on June 14 because the Continental Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. The date is also observed annually as the Army’s birthday and coincides with Flag Day in the United States.

The 2025 celebration included a festival on the National Mall and a parade traveling from the Pentagon area toward central Washington, D.C. It was described as an early or “soft launch” event connected with the broader United States Semiquincentennial celebrations.

The Army is the oldest of the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Its anniversary is distinct from the nation’s 250th anniversary, which occurs on July 4, 2026, commemorating the Declaration of Independence.