US Army’s Birthday:
Join the celebration of the U.S.
Army Birthday on June 14 as we remember its creation in 1775. The army
originally consisted of volunteer soldiers with roots to the Continental Army —
and was formed to fight the Revolutionary War. Today, as the largest branch of
the U.S. military, the proud men and women of the U.S. Army continue to provide
peace and security for all of us.
WHEN IS ARMY BIRTHDAY 2021? Happy
birthday to the U.S. Army on June 14! What started off as mostly a volunteer
service, has evolved into a force to be reckoned with.
HISTORY OF ARMY BIRTHDAY The
U.S. Army is 245 years old, and counting. That’s a LOT of birthday candles! The
annual celebration marks the date in history in 1775 when the Continental Army
was formed by the Second Continental Congress and commanded under General
George Washington to fight against Britain. Of course, the U.S. Army wasn’t always the
strongest military in the world as it is today. The original ‘army’ was formed
from volunteer soldiers, amateur troops, and minutemen, who just had the
passion and dedication to defend their land against the British. Actually,
military forces existed in the United States before the country even formally
existed. Independent colonial armies commanded inexperienced militia.
The Revolutionary War started in
America on April 19, 1775, with exchanges of musketry between Massachusetts
militiamen and British regulars at Lexington and Concord. As soldiers were
alerted in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, they responded to the
alarm, and a state of war was in the air between the British government and the
four colonies. Called the Army of Observation, a force of New Englanders
surrounded Boston and had the British troops who occupied it under siege, but
they needed help. Delegate representatives of all 13 colonies were approached
and requested to join them in the battle for American liberty. When the Continental Army delegates assembled
on May 10 in Philadelphia, they learned that British forts at Ticonderoga and
Crown Point on Lake Champlain in New York were captured by armed men led by
Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen. The situation quickly turned into a crisis, as
the delegates realized that the military coup would need to be addressed if the
desired reconciliation was to happen. The next step was taken by the Congress,
which eventually transformed the small rebellion into a full war for
independence. The establishment of the Continental Army resulted in the U.S.
Army that we know today.
There was a time when there were
never more than 48,000 Continental soldiers. Today, the United States Army
boasts over one million soldiers on duty, with an additional 800,000 Reserve-
and National Guard members. The
resilience of the U.S. Army and its history is a testimony to how integral the
military is in peacekeeping. Gratitude is expressed tremendously on the Army’s
Birthday with events and ceremonies.
ARMY BIRTHDAY TIMELINE
June 14, 1775 Congress
Establishes the Continental Army. Congress approves the raising of 10 companies
of riflemen to enlist in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia until the end of
the Revolutionary War.
June 15, 1775 George
Washington Takes the Leader. The Army names George Washington as general
and commander-in-chief to fight against enemy forces in large formations using
small ambush tactics.
1802 The First U.S.
Military Academy is Established. Congress establishes the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point, NY.
1917 The Selective Service
Act is Passed. The Act is passed in Congress — since then, the U.S. has
drafted approximately 4 million Americans.
1942 The Manhattan Project
Commences. Army engineers join with civilian scientists to create two
atomic bombs.
TRADITIONS OF THE DAY There
are many annual traditions and ceremonies that honor the past and salute the
efforts of the U.S. Army. The sacrifices of soldiers who put their lives on the
line to protect the country are recognized and re-enacted in schools, and some
local theatres. Cake cutting
ceremonies are hosted at both Capitol Hill and the Pentagon, a tradition that
has been honored over time. An Army saber is used for cutting the cake by the
highest and lowest ranking officials. This is to set in stone the teamwork and
brotherhood of the Army. The cake cutting tradition is a fun one, with the cake
cutters getting extra enthusiastic — broken tables and flying icing are not
uncommon. It is also tradition to show the world how solid the U.S. Army
is. Formation runs take place around the world, with units carrying their
colors on parade fields at dawn before beginning work for the day.
BY THE NUMBERS
1950 – the year when
America first celebrated Armed Forces Day.
30 – the number of
American presidents who served in the U.S. Army.
2 – the number of
presidents who became five-star generals, Dwight Eisenhower and George
Washington.
1 – the number of
presidents awarded with the Medal of Honor — Theodore Roosevelt.
1,760 – the number of
PlayStation 3s used to assemble a supercomputer for the Department of Defense.
30 million – the acres of
land owned by The Department of Defense.
800 – the number of
military installations overseas by the United States.
4.6 billion – the gallons
of fuel used by the U.S. military annually.
95% – the percentage
reduction in the ripping noise on soldiers’ uniforms achieved by the U.S. Army
by using a silent type of Velcro.
245 – the number of army
birthdays celebrated by 2020.
HOW TO OBSERVE ARMY BIRTHDAY
Have a party. The Army
Birthday is a celebration! Enjoy food and drinks with family and friends and
honor the men and women who have served America.
Learn the story of the Unknown
Soldier. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in Arlington, Virginia, is one of
the most famous monuments in the U.S. Learn about its history and honor its
importance.
Just say “hello” You might
know one or two of the 20.4 million living U.S. veterans. Even if you don't,
take the opportunity to seek out a veteran and offer gratitude for their
service.
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FASCINATING ARMY FACTS
1. The
Army is older than the country it serves. The Army originally formed to fight
the Revolutionary War.
2. The
Army is even bigger than you think. If the Army were a city, it would be the
10th largest in the nation. Just over 1 million soldiers are currently serving
in the Army.
3. More
presidents served in the Army than any other military branch. Of the 45 men who
have served as president, 31 had military service. Two dozen of them served in
the Army, or in state militias (our modern-day National Guard).
4. The
Army owns enough land to be a country. Soldiers serve at 158 installations
around the world, covering approximately 24,000 square miles. If it were a
state, The Army would be larger than Hawaii and Massachusetts combined.
5. The
Army is America’s second-largest employer. The Army maintains more than 1
million active-duty and reserve soldiers. Only Walmart, with 2.2 million
employees, is larger.
WHY ARMY BIRTHDAY IS IMPORTANT
It celebrates those willing to
make the ultimate sacrifice
Celebrating the Army Birthday
honors those Americans in uniform who serve their country in times of war and
peace.
It recognizes both past and
present members. The Army has had over 57 million service members in its
history — including over 1.2 million active service members and over 800,000
reserves.
It recognizes all American
veterans. There were around 20.4 million living U.S. veterans in 2016,
according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Recognizing the Army
Birthday celebrates all of America’s military members.
^ Today (June 14, 1775) the United
States Army was created. 246 years later the US Army is the largest Military Branch
with a troop strength for the Regular Army (USA) of 480,893 soldiers; the Army
National Guard (ARNG) has 336,129 soldiers and the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) has
188,703 soldiers; the combined-component strength of the U.S. Army is 1,005,725
Soldiers. The Army (like the rest of the Military) has been All-Volunteer since
1973. Many of my relatives have served in the US Military since the 1770s. More
recently: my Grandfather, my Grandmother, my Great-Uncle Ed, my Great-Uncle Len and my Father all
served in the US Army. My Brother and my Nephew are currently serving in the US
Army. ^
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