WASHINGTON — On June 14, The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) joins in with our grateful nation in celebrating the birthday of the United States Army and the flag it has carried while fighting for freedom since the American Revolutionary War.
Soldiers from multiple units across Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) stand in formation before their reenlistment orders are read by Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Randy A. George on April 4, 2024, at JBLM, Washington. George and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Weimer toured multiple sites on post to meet with leaders and Soldiers to discuss Army programs and modernization. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Oh)On June 14, 1775, the following entry was written into the journal of the Second Continental Congress:
“Resolved, that six companies of expert rifleman, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia… [and] as soon as completed, shall march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry, under the command of the chief officer in that army."
This resolution gave birth to the Continental Army, changing the course of the war for American independence and the history of the world forever. Exactly two years later, Congress would pass another resolution, this time adopting a flag to represent the new nation. The “Stars and Stripes” as it was commonly called, not only symbolized the union of the 13 Colonies and their cause, but it also became the standard the “Continentals” would bear in every battle defending American liberty.
Even today, every American soldier carries the colors as a patch on the right shoulder of their combat uniform. It appears as if the flag were flying in breeze while the soldier, and the Army, goes rolling along.
On this Flag Day, the more than 1.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary encourage every American to honor the colors that represent all of us, and say “Happy Birthday” to every active, Guard and Reserve soldier and “Soldier for Life” of the nation’s oldest and most senior branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Thank you for defending America 24/7 for 249 years.
This We’ll Defend!