This year marks the historic anniversary of the United States Army. While America’s 250th birthday officially arrives next year, it was on June 14, 1775, that the Continental Congress established a force to fight for freedom — an Army that would precede even the founding of our nation. This year’s commemoration begins a yearlong celebration, not just of our independence, but of the institution that secured it.
The U.S. Army was the first military branch formed by the colonies, established before a single star adorned our flag. Those early patriots had no country to return to, no guarantees of success, and no promises of what would come after. But they answered the call — and because they did, America was born.
We believe this milestone year must begin with deep gratitude to those first soldiers. Without their courage and sacrifice, the 250th birthday we will mark next year would not be possible. That same selfless spirit has echoed through every American conflict since—from the frozen trenches at Valley Forge to the mountains of Afghanistan where our blood and treasure fought radical terrorism without promise of return, only certainty of duty.
Today, the Army is on the frontlines of the 21st century space race. When those soldiers look to the stars, many do so with North Alabama’s red clay under their boots, including those men and women at U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. The Army as a whole is also going through a transformation known as the Army Transition Initiative.
The lessons of the battlefields in Ukraine are stark but clear. Robots and drones exchange shots where once cavalry rode and troops marched. Missiles fly at multiple times the speed of sound. The first line of defense is no longer our coastline, but our atmosphere. This transition will change the face of warfare and our military platforms, but not the ideals we fight for, nor the warrior spirit of our mighty U.S. Army. No matter what technology we will add, we can trust that the State of Alabama will continue to be at the cutting edge.
As a member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, I am honored to help shape the national reflection that will define this moment in our history. Our task is not simply ceremonial — it is to tell the American story through the lens of the people who have kept it alive.
In Alabama, we are proud to have raised generations of such patriots, including eight Medal of Honor recipients from our state. Among them are two remarkable heroes from Alabama’s Fourth District: Ola Lee Mize of Albertville for his gallant defense of Outpost Harry in Korea and Don Leslie Michael of Florence for his courageous actions in Vietnam, whose valor stands as a testament to the Army’s noble tradition.
The United States Army is not just a fighting force — it is a people’s Army, built on voluntary service, tested by fire, and sustained by character. It is composed of farmers and engineers, medics and aviators, mechanics and infantry — Americans from every walk of life who ask not what they are owed, but what they can give.
As we begin the celebration of this 250th anniversary, let us remember that it began with sacrifice, has endured through perseverance, and continues because of a shared belief in the promise of this nation. We owe everything to the soldiers — past and present — who have stood on freedom’s frontier. May we honor their legacy not only with words, but with our continued dedication to the values they preserved.
Happy 250th Birthday to the United States Army. Your story is America’s story — and it is still being written.
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt represents Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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