Fort Belvoir Celebrates Army's 238th Birthday and Flag Day

Fort Belvoir celebrated the 238th birthday of the U.S. Army and Flag Day on Friday, June 14. The event was held at post headquarters, Bldg. 269, Flagler Road.

"Those of us who have lived and served on foreign lands can testify to the warm feelings of pride that rush at the sight of the stars and stripes flying outside a U.S. embassy, a military post or an American business,"  said Garrison Commander Col. Gregory D. Gadson, who hosted the event. "The birth of our army was truly the birth of freedom for our great nation. From the first battle on American soil freedom was the prize. Today we display our freedom for the entire world to see as people look to our great nation for leadership." 

The Continental Congress voted for the creation of the Army on June 14, 1775.

"Soldiers today serve in more than 150 countries around the world, and more than 60,000 remain on point for our mission in Afghanistan," said keynote speaker Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington, Commanding General, Joint Forces Command-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington.  

"These past 12 years have been the longest period of sustained warfare in U.S. Army history and (it has been) a period of incredible sacrifice and strain on our soldiers and their families," said Linnington.

The week of June 14 is also traditionally known as "National Flag Week". 

According to a proclamation by President Barack Obama:

"I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying the flag. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America."

Old Glory has changed 26 times since 1777. The current 50-star flag has flown since 1960.