Virginia War Memorial honors Army’s 250th birthday

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission hosted a celebration honoring the creation of the U.S. Army at the Virginia War Memorial on Friday, June 13.

The army will be 250 years old on Saturday, June 14. It’s the first and oldest of the six branches of military. 

Even leaders said it was a time to join veterans and active-duty soldiers together. 

“For 250 years the Army has protected democracy," Virginia National Guard Director of the Joint Staff Brig. Gen. Todd H. Hubbard said during his remarks. "‘This will defend' has been our motto since the Revolutionary War. It reminds us that our purpose is timeless and clear to fight and win our nation’s wars. When our Army hits the dirt, America means business. Our teammates don’t want to fight without us and our enemies are wise to fear us.” 

Virginia War Memorial’s director Dr. Clay Mountcastle proudly served in the Army for 21 years.  

“It’s a good thing to have a strong, bold Army that’s 250 years old," he said.

Mountcastle’s father, also a veteran, was in the crowd. 

“It was great to have my dad in the audience, and it’s great to have any member of the U.S. military join us,” he said. 

The ceremony included a moment for five active-duty soldiers to receive a coin from five veterans. 

“We wanted to have a moment where we could show the importance of connecting the generations of army veterans,” he said. 

In his remarks, Mountcastle said he believes it was important to have a strong Army in the past, but now we need an even stronger Army. 

“As steadfast as our Army has been throughout our history, those challenges are going to continue to come at us and we need our strong army to face those," he said.

Mountcastle said he and the Virginia War Memorial aren’t participating in the Army parade happening in Washington D.C. on June 14 expected to draw tens of thousands. 

It’s also President Donald Trump’s 79^th birthday.