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Army Birthday

History · June 14

The birthday of the United States Army, a day to recognize the soldiers who serve and the long history of the nation's oldest military branch.

Army Birthday falls on Monday, June 14, 2027. That is 230 days away.

The United States Army is the country's land service, the branch that trains soldiers to operate on the ground. Its birthday marks the anniversary of the Army itself, and it is recognized by soldiers, veterans and their families across the country.

The Army is the oldest branch of the US military, and it is also the largest. Its work stretches well past combat. Soldiers build bridges, run hospitals, fly helicopters, repair engines, manage supply lines and respond when floods or storms hit at home. The Army Corps of Engineers, part of the service, works on dams, levees and waterways.

On bases, the birthday often comes with a cake. A traditional cake cutting is common, sometimes with the oldest and youngest soldiers present cutting it together, a quiet way of linking one generation of service to the next. Units may hold ceremonies, runs or formal dinners.

For people outside the service, the day tends to be simpler. A phone call to a relative who served, a note to a neighbor in uniform, a visit to a local museum with a military collection. Many towns have a veterans' post or memorial that tells part of the Army's story through local names.

The Army's motto is "This We'll Defend," and it appears on the service's flag, which carries streamers for the campaigns the Army has fought.

Ways to celebrate

• Call or write to a family member or friend who served in the Army.
• Visit a local military museum or veterans' memorial.
• Look up the Army service of a relative in family records.
• Display an American flag at home.
• Thank a soldier or Army veteran you know for their service.

Dates

Categories: History days