Legacy, tradition, and a little competition celebrating the Army’s 244th birthday

On June 14, the U.S. Army celebrates its 244th birthday.

Yuma Proving Ground ( YPG ) remembered and honored Army heroes from the past and present who have made the Army what it is today.

Just after sunrise Thursday morning, U.S. Army civilians, contractors, and service members stumbled upon the finish line sweating, tired and parched after a 5K run at YPG .

However, starting the morning with a run is routine for the Army.

YPG Command Sgt. Maj. Jamathon Nelson said, “We start out running every morning. [The Army] does more before noon than anyone else because we start early and start running.”

So what better way to kick off the U.S. Army’s 244th birthday celebration than to hit the ground running.

A day of legacy, tradition, and a little competition.

YPG Health Clinic E-4 Specialist, Samuel Newcomb , is a representation of the Army’s legacy.

” My father [was in the Army], my mom, friends and family. So, I just wanted to step in their footsteps and have a great career,” said Newcomb .

As for the competition, YPG Meteorologist Gabriel Langbauer came in first place, running 3.1 miles in just under 20 minutes.

Langbauer told News 11, “I like to run. I like to test myself. All the better if it’s better than everyone else. ”

Finally, what’s a birthday without cake? The oldest and youngest YPG Army soldiers came together to cut the birthday cake, slicing it with the first commander of Yuma’s Test Branch, Col. G.W. Howard’s sword.

Command Sgt. Maj. Nelson said, “It just shows the difference in those that are starting out and people like myself who’ve been in since 1985.”

From D-day to the present time, the Army has remained one team, one fight, and one big family.

Interestingly, this is the very first time in history that if you were born in 2001 when 9/11 occurred, you’re now old enough to fight for our country in that same ‘War on Terror’ that is still going on to this day.