This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Army, the first military branch established by the United States for the purpose of defending the nation against all enemies, tyranny and evil.
The United States Army was the nation’s first military force separate from the original Virginia Militia. Today’s United States Army started with the Continental Army; it was the army of the United Colonies representing the thirteen colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. On June 14, 1775, the United States Army was established by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia after the outbreak at the battles of Lexington and Concord.
These were the first major military campaigns of the American Revolutionary War and resulted in an American victory. An anti-British sentiment of militia support began April 19, 1775. The Continental Army (the precursor to the United States Army) was created to coordinate military efforts of the colonies in the war against the British, who sought to maintain control over the American colonies. British military forces were called “Red Coats,” due to their red coats or scarlet tunics, the military garments used by regiments of the British Army.
