HOMECOMING 250 NAVY MARINE CORPS ANNOUNCES EPIC 250TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION January 31, 2025

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PHILADELPHIA, PA | January 21, 2024 – Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps (Homecoming 250™) is proud to announce the upcoming celebration of the Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th anniversaries in the fall of 2025. The event will serve as the grand opening of the semiquincentennial and the largest event honoring the military and Veterans. It will be the largest celebration in the nation’s birthplace leading up to America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

“The Navy and Marine Corps were both founded in Philadelphia,” said George Leone, President of Homecoming 250. “Both Philly and Camden were instrumental in building and deploying ships in the Revolutionary War and over the next 200 years. Homecoming 250 wants to honor that history, support those who serve, salute our Veterans, and remind us of what unites us.”

The celebrations will occur in Philadelphia, Camden, and along the Delaware River in October and November 2025. The momentous events will honor the Navy, established on October 13, 1775, and the Marine Corps, founded shortly thereafter on November 10, 1775. Both branches were born in Philadelphia, where they launched their inaugural missions on the historic Delaware River, setting the stage for their enduring legacy.

Festivities for the 250th anniversaries begin October 9 and run through October 16, 2025, with free signature 250th events hosted along both banks of the historic Delaware River, drawing Veterans, tourists, educators, and history enthusiasts alike to the Tri-State area. The opening ceremonies will take place on October 9 with a spectacular parade of ships on the Delaware River. Following the arrival of the vessels, an opening ceremony will take place, featuring a formal blessing of the Fleet. Watch parties for the parade of ships will be hosted at the Navy Yard, Fort Mifflin, and Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, as well as at Fort Mercer in New Jersey and the Camden Riverfront.

Throughout the week, a wide array of free events will unfold, offering something for everyone to enjoy. History enthusiasts can explore exhibits showcasing the Navy and Marine Corps’ rich history and achievements at some of Philadelphia’s renowned museums, including the Independence Seaport Museum, the American Swedish Historical Museum, the Library Company of Philadelphia, The African American Museum in Philadelphia, and the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial in Camden, New Jersey. Meanwhile, educators can attend academic symposiums on the 250 years of the Navy and Marine Corps’ history hosted by the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University-Camden.

Families can explore an impressive lineup of historic, replica, and active-duty Navy ships, including the cruiser Olympia, battleship New Jersey, and submarine Becuna. In addition to ship tours, visitors can enjoy equipment demonstrations on both sides of the Delaware River and breathtaking area-wide flyovers featuring Navy and Marine Corps heritage and active-duty aircraft. A highlight of the week will be a spectacular flyover by the Blue Angels on October 13, offering an unforgettable display of aerial precision and skill. For Veterans, a special Homecoming 250 All-Veterans Reunion Picnic will be hosted on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, offering a day of camaraderie, remembrance, and celebration. The event will feature various veteran service organizations providing support, resources, and information to honor and assist those who have served.

Additional significant events will occur at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, offering a dynamic celebration of military history and culture. Highlights include a special preview screening, in partnership with WHYY, of acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns’s The American Revolution (airing on PBS on November 16) and a “Victory at Sea” concert, where bands from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have been invited to perform.

Homecoming 250 is planning several athletic events to accompany the week’s celebrations, including a 250th Anniversary run with Marines and Sailors, offering participants the chance to race alongside service members. Additional activities honoring the Navy and Marine Corps will include a prestigious Navy 250th Gala, a solemn memorial service recognizing fallen service members at Philadelphia’s historic Christ Church, and a 250th We Salute Youth parade showcasing Midshipmen, ROTC, and JROTC participants.

For those interested in pursuing a career in the Navy or Marine Corps, there will be numerous opportunities to explore potential paths. Maritime workforce outreach coordinators and members of the Navy and Marine Corps will also be onsite to provide valuable insights into the diverse career options available within both branches, from aviation and medical fields to leadership roles and technical expertise, as well as the maritime and shipbuilding industries. The week’s festivities will conclude with ship departures and closing ceremonies on October 16.

Additional celebrations for the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary will take place on November 10, 2025, with the highly anticipated 100th Marine Corps Birthday Ball at the historic Bellevue Hotel (200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA). The venue is where Lieutenant General John Lejeune, the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, hosted the very first Marine Corps Birthday Ball in 1925 with Major General Smedley Butler.

Philadelphia is a city steeped in rich history, and visitors coming to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marine Corps will find an array of historical sites related to both branches throughout the city. Independence Hall is the historic site where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed and where the Continental Congress authorized the establishment of the Continental Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.

Visitors can also tour Congress Hall, where the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps were re-established in the 1790s; see the Commodore John Barry Statue in Independence Square, honoring the Father of the U.S. Navy; and stroll through Philadelphia’s Independence National Historic Park, which is known as the birthplace of American democracy. Visitors will be able to visit the site where Tun Tavern, traditionally recognized as the birthplace of the Marine Corps, is being recreated as “The Tun” in Philadelphia’s Old City district, just 250 yards from where the original tavern was built in 1693. Each site offers a unique glimpse into the city’s rich military heritage.

To stay updated on the latest Navy and Marine Corps 250th Celebration activities and events, visit Homecoming 250’s website here.

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About Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps

Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in their birthplace – Philadelphia and the Delaware River – as a grand opening event of the Semiquincentennial of the United States. For the Navy 250th, Homecoming 250 plans to assemble for touring ships from both historical and current. For the Marine Corps 250th, Homecoming 250 plans to host the 100th Marine Corps Ball, where the 1st Ball was held, and celebrate at the site of Tun Tavern, the birthplace of the Marines. Homecoming 250 is bringing these celebrations to Philadelphia, Camden, and the Delaware River to support our military, salute our Veterans, and educate the public about the role of the Navy and Marines to defend America and freedom. www.homecoming250.org.