BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
On June 14, 1775, the fabric of our Republic began to take shape as the Second Continental Congress voted to create what would eventually evolve into the United States Army. Today, we proudly commemorate 250 years of our Army’s unwavering strength, service, valor, and discipline. We honor its storied legacy as the protector of our sovereignty and the bulwark against tyranny — and we pay homage to the countless warriors who uphold the motto: This We’ll Defend.
In the wake of the first shots fired during the Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, it became painfully clear to the patriots that, despite their earnest attempts at diplomacy, a confrontation with the British was inevitable as a last resort in the defense of their freedoms. Following the Boston Massacre, the Intolerable Acts, and the persistent injustice of taxation without representation, they convened the First Continental Congress in the fall of 1774 to formally voice their grievances. After the tragic loss of patriots at Lexington and Concord, the Colonies reconvened — and by June 14, the delegates recognized that there was only one way forward.
On that pivotal spring day, in a significant act of unity and determination, Congress passed a resolution to establish our national defense apparatus in the form of the Continental Army. “Resolved, that six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia,” the resolution stated.
With the adoption of that consequential resolution, the previously scattered militias of the American Colonies unified as a single entity — boldly declaring their resolve to defend their liberty and homeland. The very next day, George Washington was unanimously appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. Weeks later, on July 3, 1775, he assumed command of his forces in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “It is hoped that all Distinctions of Colonies will be laid aside so that one and the same Spirit may animate the whole, and the only Contest be, who shall render, on this great and trying occasion, the most essential service to the Great and common cause in which we are all engaged,” he articulated.
In the days, weeks, and years that followed, that very Army astonished the British forces at Trenton and Princeton, clinched their first significant victory at Saratoga, secured independence at Yorktown, preserved the Union at Gettysburg, held the front at Chateau-Thierry, stormed the perilous beaches of Normandy, and even today, valiantly safeguards our inheritance of freedom against every adversary with unmatched tenacity, courage, and strength. What began as a makeshift army of farmers, frontiersmen, blacksmiths, and merchants has evolved into the most formidable military force ever created by human endeavor — driven by the commitment to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
In order to ensure that our Army’s remarkable legacy continues well into the future, I have taken decisive action to eliminate what some have termed the “sinister ideology” of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” from our military ranks. I directed the Department of Defense to revise its guidance on medical standards for transgender individuals, ensuring that our military maintains its status as the most lethal force globally. In a long-overdue correction of past wrongs, I reinstated service members who were dismissed for refusing the COVID vaccine, along with full back pay and benefits. Each day, I am working to restore a foreign policy grounded in peace through strength — and as a result, military recruitment is witnessing unprecedented highs. Under my leadership, the United States military will persist as the mightiest, fiercest, boldest, and most respected force in the entire world.
On this momentous 250th anniversary of the United States Army’s founding, we pay tribute to every hero of liberty who sacrificed their lives to keep America safe, sovereign, and free. As my Administration continues the crucial work of safeguarding our homeland and sustaining our way of life, we call upon the spirit, confidence, and determination of the brave men who fought for our independence on the battlefield 250 years ago — vowing that their legacy of courage will endure and that our sacred birthright of freedom will never, ever fade.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2025, as a day in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army. This We’ll Defend.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
