The Nation: The Army Turns 200

On June 14, 1775, the U.S. Army was born when the Second Continental Congress authorized the recruitment of riflemen who, together with the militiamen holding off the British in Boston, became the army of the colonies. When George Washington assumed his command in Cambridge, Mass., almost three weeks later, he found that “confusion and disorder reigned in every department.” The Army has come some way since then, and U.S. military installations round the world plan to mark the 200th anniversary this week with ceremonies and pageants. Later Army exhibits will emphasize contributions made by the military to civilian life. These include the building of the Panama Canal as well as some lesser-known examples of Army pioneering: development of freeze-dried foods and the invention of the aerosol can.