240th Birthday of the U.S. Army and USACE

Vicksburg, Miss…Two hundred forty years ago on June 16, 1775 our nation's leaders established the Continental Army. Today, the Army is the strategic land power of the joint force; called upon to prevent, shape, and win against our adversaries.

This year, we celebrate 240 years of selfless service to the nation. Selfless service is at the core of what it means to be a Soldier - putting the welfare of others ahead of oneself. The willingness of our Soldiers - to place themselves in harm's way and to protect our nation's freedoms - is what makes us the premier all-volunteer force.

The Soldiers of the Continental Army helped forge a bond with Americans built on duty and victory, which sustains our profession 240 years later. As we answer the nation's call, we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in our fight for freedom.

240 Years and Still BUILDING STRONG

June 16th is also the 240th birthday of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Vicksburg District will celebrate the birthday with cake and refreshments after a townhall and awards ceremony June 24, 2015. A District tradition pairs the longest tenure and newest hired employee to cut the birthday cake with a traditional military saber.

The District supports the U.S. Army’s mission in domestic and foreign fields by deploying volunteer members of its civilian workforce every year. The District supports the Transatlantic Afghanistan Engineer District with engineers, administrators, real estate and environmental personnel. The Vicksburg District also serves the nation by providing emergency response to natural disasters and emergency support to other agencies, particularly the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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