AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY MARKS THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL OF THE UNITED STATES
On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces and honor their service to our country.
As we celebrate our nation's birthday, we salute the United States Armed Forces whose history proudly spans 250 years.
The United States Department of Defense organizes the military into six distinct service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
The primary purpose of the Armed Forces is to defend our nation against external threats, secure its vital interests, and protect its sovereignty. The six branches of the Armed Forces achieve this through deterring aggression, conducting warfare when necessary, and supporting civil authorities during domestic crises or natural disasters.
The United States Armed Forces were established under federal law. Each is assigned specific roles and operational domains. In peacetime, the Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and all the other services operate under the Department of Defense (DoD), which was recently renamed the Department of War (DoW). The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were established during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).
Initially, the Marines were known as the Continental Marines. Later, they were re-established as a permanent military branch on July 11, 1798.
The United States Air Force was officially established as an independent military branch on September 18, 1947. However, its military lineage traces back much earlier through several previous designations:
August 1, 1907: The U.S. Army Signal Corps created a small Aeronautical Division, marking the first iteration of military flight.
1914-1947: It grew through various stages as the Aviation Section (1914), the Army Air Service (1918), the Army Air Corps (1926), and the Army Air Forces (1941).
The United States Coast Guard is a unique agency of the federal government. Established August 4, 1790. When President George Washington and the first Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. Known variously through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the Revenue Marine and the Revenue Cutter Service, they expanded in size and responsibilities as the nation grew.
The U. S. Space Force was established on December 20, 2019, creating the first new branch of the armed services since 1947. The Establishment of the Space Force resulted from widespread recognition that space is a national security imperative. When combined with the growing threat posed by strategic competitors in space, it became clear that there was a need for a military service focused on pursuing superiority in the space domain.
As we salute our Armed Forces, let us remember that their service, dedication, and perseverance have been evident from the founding of our country in 1776 to the current day:
The American Revolution (1775-1783)
The War of 1812 & Mexican-American War (1812-1848)
The American Civil War (1861-1865)
World War I (1917-1918) marked the first war in which women were allowed to enlist in the Armed Forces.
NOTE: Currently, women make up approximately 17.9% of the U.S. Armed Forces, with over 230,000 active-duty servicewomen. Since all military jobs officially opened to women in 2015, women have served across all branches, including elite combat, infantry, and special operations roles.
World War II (1941-1945)
The Cold War & Proxy Conflicts (1945-1991): Tensions with the Soviet Union led to direct, major military engagements during the Korean War (1950-1953) and the Vietnam War (1964-1975)
Modern Conflicts (1990s-Present): Eras defined by the Gulf War (1990-1991) and post 9/11 War on Terror, involving sustained operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
REMEMBER the FALLEN * HONOR those who SERVED * TEACH our children the value of FREEDOM
The attached sponsorship form is provided.
2026 is the first year that Roselawn has offered the Family Tree Page as a sponsorship option. Your family name will be part of the Family Tree in the Wreaths Across America 2026 program.
Sponsor 5 wreaths @ $17 each = $85
Names of veterans sponsored will be acknowledged on a separate page, as those who served
Sponsors' names will be acknowledged on a separate page
Our goal for 2026 is to place a wreath at the final resting place of each of the 4,000 veterans on Roselawn's sacred grounds.
Your support is appreciated as we join hands to commemorate our veterans on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at 12:00 noon for Roselawn's 8th Annual Wreaths Across America Ceremony.
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Thank you - I'm a phone call away if you have questions,
Lucille Corsentino
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