U.S. Navy’s and Marine Corps 250th Birthdays

Story by Daniel O. Myers, photos by Carl Kruse

On July 4, 2026, the United States of America will be celebrating its Sesquicentennial. As America prepares to observe the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Pennsylvania and New Jersey held an early commemoration recognizing the founding of our nation’s military services. Taking place at America’s birthplace- Philadelphia- the monumental event was filled with week-long activities honoring the men and women of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, who fought for our independence then and continue to defend our freedom today. After five years in the making, “Homecoming 250 Navy-Marine Corps” kicked off. From October 9 to 16, the Philadelphia area became the only place in the world where visitors were able to experience an historical salute to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th birthdays. The Navy and Marine Corps had purposefully chosen Philadelphia- the very city where it all began- not only as the birthplace of the nation but where those services were born. The Secretary of the Navy had announced that the Navy and Marine Corps should celebrate their 250th birthdays with the greatest display of naval history ever.

A large component of the week’s festivities included fly-bys by U.S. Navy and USMC jets and helicopters. Those aircraft began arriving on Wednesday, October 8 at Northeast Philadelphai Airport (KPNE). They included four USMC V-22 Ospreys [VMM-261 ELVIS], two CH-53 [HMHT-302] and two each of AH-1s and UH-1s [HMLA-167]. Also, three MH-60 [HSC-7 DUSTY] and one MH-60 [HSC-26 DUSTY] representing the Navy. Later that evening, two USMC F-35Cs [VMFA-251 T-BOLT], four Navy F/A-18s [VFA-32 GYPSY] and two F/A-18s [VFA- 34 JOKER] landed at Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL).

Following its founding in Philadelphia on 13 October 1775, the Continental Navy launched their fight for American independence from the Delaware River. With the week’s focus on Philadelphia’s waterfront, Thursday October 9 marked the 250th anniversary with an unprecedented display of naval ships. The parade of military vessels gathered in the Delaware Bay and proceeded north up the river to Philadelphia and Camden, NJ. The flotilla, viewed from both banks of the river, included among others, the USS Arlington (LPD-24), USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) and USS Billings (LCS 15). Flying overhead, the maritime procession was escorted by four USMC V-22 Ospreys, two USMC F-35Cs and six Navy F/A-18s.

Once docked on the Delaware riverfront at Camden and Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing, the ships were open for public tours, joining others that represented every major conflict in which the Navy has fought, from the American Revolution to today. At Penn’s Landing was the Cruiser Olympia, Admiral Dewey’s Spanish-American War flagship that also served in World War I and returned the Unknown Soldier from France to Arlington National Cemetery. Also, the submarine Becuna which served in World War II and the Cold War. On the Camden Waterfront is the Battleship New Jersey- the most decorated Navy ship afloat and the only battleship that fought in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, as well as the Cold War.

Throughout the day Friday October 9, Navy and Marine Corps helicopters took flight to several local Bucks County schools with static-ground displays and fast-rope air assault demonstrations. Later that evening, two F/A-18s did a stadium flyby along with a parachute jump by the U.S. Navy LEAPFROGS at the U.S. Army’s West Point / U.S. Naval Academy men and women’s 14th annual Army-Navy Cup soccer match. With the Goodyear Blimp flying overhead, the rivalry took place at Subaru Park stadium, home of the Philadelphia Union, located at the base of the Commander Barry Bridge in Chester, PA. A statue of Commander Barry, a father of the U.S. Navy, sits outside Independence Hall. Another statue; that of Captain John Paul Jones, considered to be the father of the U.S. Navy, sits on the south side of Philadelphia’s Kelly Drive, west of 26th street.

Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th were going to be the grand events days! Saturday began with Navy and USMC helicopter displays and demonstrations at Philadelphia’s Navy Yard, Mustin Field and Marine parade grounds. Throughout the day, numerous multi-ship aviation flyovers were scheduled to fly up the Delaware River, over to Valley Forge, down the Schuylkill River, back down the Delaware River to Wilmington, DE, into South Jersey and back to the Philadelphia riverfront. Later those days, a naval expeditionary demonstration was scheduled to take place on the Delaware River at Penn’s Landing. The demonstration was to feature a low-altitude Navy and Marine Corps flyover, patrol boat maneuvers, helicopter displays, and a live maritime and air assault with combined U.S. Navy SEALs and U.S. Marine Corps landing craft and, U.S. Coast Guard assault force using live explosives and blank ammunition. Two P-8s [VP–45 PELICAN] were also tasked to do a low-level flyby of Penn’s Landing. Unfortunately, most of that was canceled Saturday due to rain, low clouds and poor visibility, and high winds on Sunday.

What did take place on Saturday was a flyby by two AV-8s [VMA-223 STONE] and two F/A-18s [VFC-12 AMBUSH] circling center city. Later in the afternoon, an F-35C and F/A-18E two-ship formation did a flyby of the Naval Academy-Temple University football game at Lincoln Financial Field along with a parachute jump by the U.S. Navy LEAPFROGS. The Temple University Owls and Naval Academy Midshipmen football game has been a continuous rivalry since 1988.

Despite a constant light rain on Monday October 13, a Salute to Youth Parade that featured Naval Academy midshipmen and students from ROTC, NROTC, and JROTC did take place. The route started at JFK Blvd & 20th St., finishing at 5th and Chestnut Sts.- Independence Hall- where the parade was to conclude with a Blue Angels flyover. Independence Hall, located at America’s most historic square mile, was formerly the Pennsylvania State House where the nation’s founders signed the Declaration of Independence and the Second Continental Congress established the U.S. Navy and Continental Marines. Located on nearby 2nd street between Market and Chestnut is the historic Tun Tavern, known as the birthplace of the Corps, where on 10 November 1775 the first Marines were recruited by Continental Marines Commandant Samuel Nicholas. Unfortunately, rain and low visibility precluded the Blue Angels from performing. After flying up from Pensacola, the U.S. Navy demonstration team circled over Patuxent River, MD for more than an hour before departing back home.

The final day, Wednesday October 15, the 250th celebration was capped off with a an evening of aerial displays that began with a four-ship F/A-18 [VFA-32 GYPSY] flyby at Penn’s Landing. Following; the sky was lit up over both sides of the Delaware River with fireworks, lighted ships, cannon salutes, and synchronized music. On Thursday October 16, the Navy ships and Marine Cops aircraft departed.