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News | June 12, 2015

DLA Distribution recognizes the U.S. Army birthday and National Flag Day

By Dawn Bonsell DLA Distribution Public Affairs

This weekend the United States celebrates two patriotic holidays that symbolize our great country, our flag and our Army. Sunday, June 14, 2015 marks the 240th birthday of the U.S. Army as well as National Flag Day.

On June 14, 1775, Congress adopted the American Continental Army, raising 10 companies of riflemen, approving an enlistment form, and appointing a committee to draft rules and regulations. The following day, George Washington was unanimously chosen as the commander of all continental forces.

Today, DLA Distribution recognizes not only the soldiers who fought more than 200 years ago, but also those who serve now and have given another year of sacrifice, service and time away from family and friends. With a focus on “warfighter first,”  DLA Distribution is the leading provider of global distribution support to America’s military including receiving, storing and issuing supplies as well as providing other tailored services to increase warfighter readiness.

With several distribution centers co-located with Army depots, DLA Distribution provides efficient, effective and best value services to Army customers. DLA Distribution Anniston, Ala., DLA Distribution Corpus Christi, Texas, DLA Distribution Tobyhanna, Pa. and DLA Distribution Red River, Texas are all collocated with Army. We have a total of 188,000 national stock numbers, $34.2 billion in inventory and 657,000 lines received/issued at our Army collocated distribution centers.  DLA Distribution Anniston receives, stores and issues materiel to support weapons and combat weapons systems maintenance, while DLA Distribution Corpus Christi supports helicopter repair missions. DLA Distribution Red River receives, stores and distributes major end items and is the designated storage site for the Army’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems, Multiple Launch Rockets Systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. DLA Distribution Tobyhanna is the largest, full-service communications-electronics maintenance facility in DoD.

As America celebrates the Army’s birthday, it also recognizes National Flag Day. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the first flag of the United States was carried into battle on Sept. 11, 1777, in the Battle of the Brandywine. The American flag was first saluted by foreign naval vessels on Feb. 14, 1778 when the Ranger, a U.S. Naval vessel, arrived in a French port. The flag first flew over a foreign territory in early 1778 at Nassau, Bahama Islands, where Americans captured a British fort. 

Today, National Flag Day is commemorated with proclamations, ceremonies, and other observances. However, many people will honor the day simply by displaying the American flag on their homes.