Semiquincentennials of the Navy and Marine Corps to be celebrated with major events in October and November.
All veterans – regardless of service branch – are urged to circle dates on their calendars and make travel plans now. Philadelphia and Camden County, N.J., will be the epicenter of respect for military service on the 250th birthday of the Navy (Oct. 9-16) and the Marine Corps (Nov. 7-11).
“I want you all to come,” Homecoming 250/Navy & Marine Corps CEO and Chairman George Leone told thousands of veterans gathered Wednesday in Tampa, Fla., for the 106th American Legion National Convention. “I want you to tell your states, chapters – all divisions of The American Legion – to come. This is the largest event of the entire semiquincentennial honoring the military and veterans. It is also … a real chance for people to get excited about the semiquincentennial, about the 250th. It’s going to be a spectacular event – multi-day big celebration. I want you all to be there.”
A parade of Navy ships will sail up the Delaware River Oct. 9 and will be available for tours for seven days. “That includes destroyers, amphibious ships for the Marines – and they will be joining the great historical ships that you can also tour.”
Among the historical vessels will be the U.S.S. Olympia, which brought home the first Unknown Soldier across the Atlantic from France to Arlington National Cemetery in 1921, and the battleship New Jersey, “the most decorated Navy ship afloat. We have a submarine as well and we’re going to have a Washington-crossing Durham Boat. In addition to that, we’re going to have naval aviation in spades, flying over this event, to show the great service that naval aviators have done. As the son of a naval aviator, I had to make sure that that’s true. We’re going to have the Marines, too, with their F-35s that go straight up and down. It will be a sight to see.
“It’s going to be a great demonstration of our military’s abilities in these troubled times reminding us that they are out there every day defending us and the free world.”
The Army-Navy Soccer Cup, the Navy-Temple football game and other sporting events are also planned as part of the celebration.
The biggest event, set for Independence National Historical Park on Oct. 12, is “designed directly for The American Legion and for you veterans, which is a giant all-veterans reunion picnic,” Leone said. “The key word is ‘veterans.’ The second key word is ‘all.’ It’s for veterans of all services. We will have places for each service’s members to gather. We’re going to fill the mall with 30,000 veterans and their families. It will be a wonderful afternoon.”
That evening, a Victory at Sea Concert will feature the U.S. Navy Band and possibly the Commandant’s Own Marine Band. “This will be a spectacular and very patriotic concert,” Leone said. Fireworks will follow.
The Navy & Marine Corps 250 Parade on Oct. 13 will serve as a salute to young people choosing military service. A Blue Angels flyover and a leadership summit are also planned that day, again followed by fireworks.
“This event was designed to remind us what unites us,” Leone told the crowd. “In these difficult times, with troubles abroad, it’s important for us to remember that we have young people serving in the Red Sea, getting shot at as we speak, Marines serving in Okinawa, far from home. We need to remember that these young people are out there for us, and we have to remember our dedication to them.”
A full schedule of events, ceremonies and activities is available on the Homecoming 250 website.
The Marine Corps’ 250th birthday will be celebrated Nov. 7-11 with special events including history tours, a mass “Oorah” at Independence Hall on Nov. 10, a gathering that day to celebrate the coming re-creation of Tun Tavern, the historic birthplace of the Marines, and much more.
“We are welcoming everybody to come,” Leone told the group. “And, we really hope that you will spread the word to Legion posts throughout the United States. We know that for many of you, it will be a long trip, but it will be a worthwhile trip. For many of you, it’s just a drive. This event was designed for veterans. We need you to show up and show America how important veterans have been to this country and how important veterans are in the future.”
- Convention