Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps

Celebrating the Services who secured 250 years of independence.

As Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – the Semiquincentennial – we should also commemorate the founding of the military services that gained our independence and have defended us for 250 years. In 1775, the Navy and Marine Corps were founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and launched their fight for American independence from the Delaware River.

Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps is the charity created to host the main celebrations of the Navy and the Marine Corps 250th birthdays in their birthplace – Philadelphia and the Delaware River.

Based on Homecoming 250's efforts, the Secretary of the Navy has directed the Navy and Marine Corps to celebrate the Navy and Marine Corps 250th birthdays in Philadelphia and adjacent Camden, New Jersey, in 2025!

Homecoming 250 is planning the big Celebration with the Navy and Marine Corps. They are bringing the Blue Angels, at least five Navy ships, and much more to make the Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration in Fall 2025 the grand opening event of the Semiquincentennial, and its largest event honoring the military and veterans.

Homecoming 250™ is planning spectacular celebrations for the Navy and Marine Corps’ 250th!

In Fall 2025, Homecoming 250™ will celebrate the Navy and Marine Corps 250th birthdays with unique signature events on both banks of the Delaware River:

  • We will celebrate the Navy and Marine Corps 250th with an unprecedented display of Navy ships from the American Revolution to today, including ships important to the Marine Corps, which you can tour on the Delaware River starting on October 9, 2025.
  • We will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Navy's founding on October 13, 1775, which a ceremony outside its Independence Hall birthplace and an area-wide flyover by the Blue Angels.
  • We will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps' founding on November 10, 1775, by holding the 100th Marine Corps Birthday Ball in the same Philadelphia ballroom where General Lejeune held the 1st Marine Corps Birthday Ball 100 years before. We are also planning a party to toast the dedication of The Tun, a permanent recreated tavern that is the birthplace of the Marines, that will attract Sailors, Marines, and all citizens for years to come.
  • We will hold commemorations near Independence Hall and Congress Hall where the Navy and Marine Corps were created, and host parades, concerts, demonstrations, exhibits, reenactments, veterans gatherings, and other great events to give the Navy and Marine Corps the 250th celebration they deserve!

These celebrations will shine an early spotlight on the birthplace of our Nation, honor the Navy and the Marine Corps, salute the men and women of all backgrounds who have defended America and the world for 250 years, inspire our youth, and remind us of what unites us.

We invite you to volunteer, donate, and help us to give our Navy, Marines, and Veterans a once-in-a-lifetime 250th celebration!

To learn more about the birth of the Navy and Marine Corps in Philadelphia and the Delaware River, the amazing celebrations planned for the Navy and Marine Corps 250th, and the organizations hosting and supporting this great cause, click on the images below or use the Menu or Search tools above.