The Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration
Homecoming 250 hosted the national Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration on October 9-17, 2025. Enjoy the highlight reels and explore the featured events, including the celebrations on the Marine Corps' 250th Birthday on 10 November!
Watch Highlight Reel by En Route
Watch Marine Corps Wrap-Up Reel
See Inquirer Photo Summary
Preliminary Events
Featured Events
Parade of Ships & Opening Ceremony
October 9, 2025
Along the Delaware River and at the Navy Yard
A magnificent Parade of Ships sailed up the Delaware River, featuring the USS Arlington, USS Lassen, USS Cooperstown, USS Billings, and USCGC Lawrence Lawson as they arrived in Philadelphia and Camden County. The celebration also included an impressive flyover by Navy and Marine Corps aircraft. Guests gathered at watch party locations along the river and at Homecoming 250's Opening Ceremony at the historic Philadelphia Navy Yard, where the Governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and the Mayor of Philadelphia joined Navy and Marine Corps leaders to kick off the Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration.
Watch Full Event on C-SPAN
Watch Full Event on CBS Livestream
Watch Flyover View
Watch View from the Amphib
See USMC Parade of Ships Video
News Coverage and Photos of Parade of Ships & Opening Ceremony
Dedication of the USS Enterprise Name Plate
October 9, 2025
Battleship Pier, Camden, NJ
The public saw the unveiling of the Holy Grail of U.S. Navy artifacts – the Stern Plate bearing the name of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, which fought in almost every carrier battle in the Pacific. This rare artifact from the most decorated Navy ship ever remains on display next to the most decorated Navy ship afloat, the Battleship New Jersey, as a living legacy of Homecoming 250.
Ken Burns Interview and Preview
October 9, 2025 - Ken Burns previewed his "The American Revolution" documentary series and was interviewed by WHYY's Terry Gross at Camden's Freedom Mortgage Pavilion during the Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration.
Camden City Hall Flag Raising Ceremony
October 10, 2025 - The Mayor of Camden and with leaders of both services presided over the raising of the Navy and Marine Corps flags tt Camden City Hall to help inaugurate this two city, two state celebration.
Wreath Laying for the Founder of the Navy Supply Corps
October 10, 2025 - Navy leaders commemorated the founding of the Naval Supply Corps, still based in Philadelphia, by honoring its founder, Tench Francis, at historic Christ Church Graveyard in Philadelphia, resting place for many Navy heroes
Philadelphia Orchestra Salute to Navy & Marine Corps 250th
October 10, 2025 - The Philadelphia Orchestra, celebrating its 125th Anniversary, honored service members and commemorated the 250th Anniversary of the Navy & Marine Corps by playing Ravel’s “A Boat on the Ocean,” led by conductor Stéphane Denève at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center.
October 10, 2025 - Marines, including the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, and others raced up the storied steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous in the movie "Rocky."
Army-Navy Cup Presented by Leidos
October 10, 2025 - The storied soccer rivalry between the Army’s West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy returned to the home of the Philadelphia Union for the 14th annual Army-Navy Cup. For the first time, the annual rivalry included both men’s and women’s soccer matches in a marquee doubleheader featuring a flyover, parachute jump, and 250th festivities.
Navigating the Past: Histories of the US Navy and Marine Corps, 1775–2025 — Conference Part 1
October 10, 2025
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
The two-part conference brought together leading scholars from across the full sweep of U.S. history to explore the Navy and Marine Corps. The opening day, hosted by the McNeil Center for Early American Studies, was held at the Kislak Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and covered the formative years from 1775 to 1850. It offered fresh perspectives on the maritime forces’ role in shaping the nation, focusing on four topics:
America’s Early Navy
Early Navy and African Slave Trade
Navy and Marine Corps Culture During Jacksonian Era
Navy During Antebellum Period
Navy-Temple Game
October 11, 2025 - Navy mounts a thrilling comeback over Philadelphia's Temple University at Lincoln Financial Field, with the undefeated Midshipmen winning 32-31 in the final seconds.
River Demonstration on the Delaware
October 11, 2025
Delaware River Between Penn's Landing and Battleship NJ
A Naval Expeditionary Demonstration on the Delaware River featured a low-altitude Navy and Marine Corps flyover, patrol boat maneuvers, helicopter displays, and a live maritime and air assault by a combined U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard assault force using live explosives and blank ammunition.
October 11, 2025
National Constitution Center
Seven hundred Sailors, Marines, and guests raised a glass alongside Navy and Marine Corps leaders, and the heads of allied navies, in celebration of the Navy’s 250th Birthday at the Navy 250 Gala. The Gala was presented by Exiger and hosted by ESPN national correspondent and Navy veteran Sal Paolantonio. The Gala was held at the National Constitution Center, overlooking historic Independence Hall—where the Navy was born. Speakers included the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Navy and Marine Corps leaders heading the event, and Philadelphia Mayor Parker.
Flag Raising Ceremony at Philadelphia City Hall
October 13, 2025 - Philadelphia commemorated its cohosting of the Navy & Marine Corps 250th by raising the flag of the Navy and Marine Corps on its 250th Birthday at iconic Philadelphia City Hall, with the Chief of Naval Operations speaking at the Mayor's Reception Hall.
Navy & Marine Corps 250 Thanksgiving & Remembrance Service
October 13, 2025
Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA
Navy and Marine Corps leadership and the public honored the Sailors and Marines who gave their lives in the line of duty over the last 250 years in a moving service at Philadelphia’s historic Christ Church, whose steeple overlooked the commissioning on the Delaware of the first Navy ship.
Navy & Marine Corps 250 Parade
October 13, 2025
JFK Blvd & 20th St. to 520 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
The public enjoyed a two-hour parade spectacle featuring floats, balloons, and marching bands from local schools and the Navy and Marine Corps. The parade also honored young people on the path to military service, including Naval Academy midshipmen, ROTC, NROTC, and JROTC students, as well as Sea Cadets. The procession stepped off at JFK Boulevard and 20th Street, concluded at Independence Mall, and culminated with a dramatic Leap Frogs parachute jump. The event was free and open to the public.
Watch Full Event on 6ABC
Watch USMC Parade Highlights
News Coverage
See Photos by Hugh E Dillon
See More Photos
Navy 250th Commemoration
October 13, 2025
Kimmel Center's Marian Anderson Hall, Philadelphia, PA
The 250th Anniversary of the Navy’s founding was commemorated with official addresses from the Secretary of the Navy, the uniformed head of the Navy, and other distinguished speakers.
Watch Full Event on C-SPAN
Watch News Coverage
See Photos by Hugh E Dillon
Flyovers and Fly-Ins
October 9-16, 2025 - The Navy and Marines flew jets and helicopters all over the Philadelphia area, and made flying visits to numerous schools, including Bensalem High School.
Navy Dive Tank and Neighborhood Visits
October 11-15, 2025 - The Navy brought its divers to Philadelphia, and went out on the streets, to interact with area residents and do community projects throughout the area.
Homecoming 250 Fireworks Over the Delaware
October 15, 2025
Penn’s Landing and the Camden Waterfront
The Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration concluded with an unforgettable evening of music, history, and fireworks over the Delaware River on Wednesday, October 15. Festivities began at 5 p.m. with live musical performances by Navy and Marine bands on both sides of the river, honoring the historic waterways where the Navy and Marine Corps launched their earliest ships and missions. The evening was preceded by a military jet flyover and culminated at 7 p.m. with a spectacular fireworks with synchronized music display that illuminated Navy, Coast Guard, and historic ships along the river, including the lighted battleship New Jersey, and crowds watching from Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia and the Camden Waterfront in New Jersey. Courtesy of Pyrotechnico.
Watch PHL17 Coverage
Watch Finale
News Coverage FOX 29 at 5
News Coverage CBS Philadelphia
News Coverage PHL17
News Coverage FOX 29 at 11
First Commandant Wreath Laying Ceremony
October 14 & November 10, 2025 - During the NMC 250th Celebration, and on the Corps' birthday, Marines honored Samuel Nicholas, the "First Commandant," at Philadelphia's Arch Street Meeting House.
Marine Corps 250th Commemoration and Tun Block Party
November 10, 2025 - Homecoming 250 teamed with The Tun Legacy Foundation to hold a 250th Commemoration of the Marines near the past and future sites of the Tun Tavern, birthplace of the Corps.
Marine Corps 250 Birthday Ball at the Museum of the American Revolution
November 10, 2025 - While Homecoming 250 hosted the 100th Marine Corps Birthday Ball, The Tun Legacy Foundation held a simultaneous Ball at the Museum of the American Revolution.
100th Marine Corps Birthday Ball
November 10, 2025
Bellevue Hotel, Philadelphia
The 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps was celebrated at the birthplace of one of its most cherished traditions—the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Homecoming 250 hosted the 100th Marine Corps Birthday Ball in the same ballroom where Commandant Lejeune held the inaugural celebration a century ago, the Grand Ballroom of the historic Bellevue Hotel. Additional guests viewed the celebration via screens at the Marine Corps Overflow Ball on the top floor of the Bellevue. The historic event featured Secretary of the Navy and Marine Richard V. Spencer, Medal of Honor recipient Gen. James Livingston, MC Rob Riggle, and Marines past and present!
Watch Full Event
Watch Commandant’s 250th Birthday Message
See Photos