U.S. Army Forces Command, Reserve Command Salute Army's 240th birthday

By Randy Murray, FORSCOM Public AffairsJune 18, 2015

FORSCOM, USARC celebrate Army's 240th birthday
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FORSCOM, USARC celebrate Army's 240th birthday
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3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT BRAGG, N.C. (June 12, 2015) - Army culinary specialists Pvt. Justin Walkup-Clark and Specialists Daeja Carter and Jason Cairl stand with Maj. Gen. Jimmie Jaye Wells after being recognized for cake designs for the FORSCOM and USARC celebration of... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORSCOM, USARC celebrate Army's 240th birthday
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT BRAGG, N.C. (June 12, 2015) - Sergeant Maj. Benny Dobbs, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mary Colburn, Spc. Gabriel Still and Maj. Gen. Jimmie Jaye Wells prepare to cut the birthday cake as part of FORSCOM and USARC celebration of the Army's 240th birth... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORSCOM, USARC celebrate Army's 240th birthday
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. (June 12, 2015) - U.S. Army Forces Command and U.S. Army Reserve Command celebrated early the Army's 240th birthday with a cake-cutting and tribute to the Army's history, selfless service and professionalism here at their Marshall Hall headquarters.

The Continental Congress established the Army on June 14, 1775 -- a year before they signed the Declaration of Independence. June 14 is the Army's Birthday and Flag Day.

Today, U.S. Army Forces Command and Reserve Command leaders, Soldiers, Family members and Department of the Army civilians celebrated the Army's 240th birthday with a cake cutting and comments by FORSCOM Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Jimmie Jaye Wells.

"The Army was the first branch of the service," Wells said. "In fact, before we were a country, we had the Army. Before we had the Constitution, we had the Army."

Wells then briefly summarized the historic events in the spring of 1775 that led the Second Continental Congress to establish and support an Army, most especially the April 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.

Although the actions of the New England militias, including the now famous Minutemen, showed American resolve not to be disarmed, military and political leaders realized they needed a professional Army to fight what was then the most powerful army in the world, the British army.

He noted the Congress essentially "adopted" the New England militias as the basis of the new Army, then voted to raise $2 million for support of forces around Boston and New York. They also approved a draft to establish rules and regulations for the government of the Army.

As he was speaking, Wells unveiled a portrait depicting militia Capt. John Parker and about a dozen more Minutemen standing in Boston Common, weapons in hand. It was during a stand-off with British forces at Boston Commons that led to -- "the shot heard around the world."

After a long, hard fight and with help from the French and others, the British army was defeated at Yorktown, Va., in October 1781.

Wells suggested a good Soldier should be willing to do a pushup for each of those 240 years, but then noting that was a lot of pushups, he invited all Soldiers in uniform to join him in doing 24 pushups: one for each decade the Army has served and defended this country.

Sergeant Maj. Benny Dobbs, FORSCOM G-3/5/7, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mary Colburn and Spc. Gabriel Stillman later joined Wells for the official cake cutting with a traditional Army saber. Colburn and Stillman represented the longest-serving and shortest-serving FORSCOM Soldiers, with Colburn having now served 38 years and Stillman having served 18 months.

Wells also recognized Sgt. Maj. Tyler Overton, G-2, for his preparation and supervision of the birthday celebration, as well as three Army cooks, who designed the three birthday cakes that were served, following the ceremony. They included Pvt. Justin Walkup-Clark and Specialists Daeja Carter and Jason Cairl.

Related Links:

Army celebrates 240th birthday at U.S. Capitol

240th Army Birthday

U.S. Army Forces Command

STAND TO: Happy 240th Birthday, U.S. Army

U.S. Army Reserve