HARRISBURG – Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33), a retired U.S. Army colonel and chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, issued a formal tribute recognizing the 250th Birthday of the United States Army, honoring the institution’s profound legacy of service, sacrifice and defense of liberty since its founding in 1775.
“For 250 years, the United States Army has stood as the backbone of our nation’s defense and a beacon of freedom around the world,” said Mastriano. “It’s not just a fighting force – it’s a living testimony to what a free people will do to remain free.”
Established on June 14, 1775 by the Continental Congress, the Army has led America through every major conflict, from the Revolutionary War to modern-day operations across the globe. Mastriano highlighted defining moments in the Army’s history – Washington’s bold stand at Trenton, Chamberlain’s bayonet charge at Gettysburg, Sgt. Alvin York’s heroism in World War I and Gen. George Patton’s liberation of Europe in World War II.
“The history of the Army is the history of America’s survival,” Mastriano said. “Time and again, our soldiers have gone where they were needed most – over mountains, through jungles, across beaches – so that others could live in peace.”
He also recalled the strength of Cold War soldiers stationed across Germany, the Army’s swift liberation of Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm and the sacrifices made in the post-9/11 era to combat global terrorism.
Mastriano drew from personal experience, sharing his family’s years overseas during the Cold War and deployments to the Middle East, and emphasized the resilience of Army families.
“Our soldiers don’t serve alone,” he said. “Behind each uniform is a family who sacrifices, endures and stands watch.”
As a senator and veteran, Mastriano has been a steadfast advocate for veterans’ rights, military readiness and the preservation of America’s military heritage.
“Let us never forget: freedom isn’t passed down like an heirloom. It is earned, defended and passed on through blood, sweat and sacrifice. Happy 250th Birthday to the United States Army – may its next 250 years be as honorable as the last,” Mastriano said.
CONTACT: Don Beishl, 717-787-6701