Army to honor 250th birthday in uniforms for Navy game

The United States of America declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, but the Continental Army was established the previous year. As the United States Army celebrates its 250th birthday this year, the Army football team will honor the anniversary through its football uniforms for the Navy game on Dec. 13.

From Army:

For the past 250 years, the United States Army has stood as America’s enduring symbol of service and sacrifice. Born in the desperate conditions of the American Revolution, the Army’s legacy is one of steadfast commitment to the defense of liberty, reflected in our motto, “This we’ll defend.” 

At the core of the Army’s service are the seven Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. These values represent the moral compass of every Soldier, bind us in shared purpose, and ensure character and trust are the bedrock of our profession. 

The Army’s strength comes from the American people - ordinary citizens who have rendered extraordinary sacrifice for the Nation. Soldiers and their families have endured hardships and persevered in the harshest conditions in conflicts across the globe. These sacrifices have safeguarded the Nation’s ideals and serve as the fountain of inspiration for future generations. 

The Army’s Warrior Ethos captures the essence of 250 years of service and sacrifice: “I will always place the mission first, I will never accept defeat, I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade.”   

Army will wear marble-print white jerseys and pants, topped by silver helmets adorned with the US Army Seal as the decal. The stripe down the middle represents the Old Guard Espontoon, which "serves as a constant reminder of the Army's role as the tip of the spear," and the typography of the numbers is lifted from the US Constitution, outlined in purple as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families.

Now that I'm done describing the uniforms, go ahead and take a gander:

Honestly, the landing page that Army and Nike created to announce the uniforms is incredible. It's full of information I didn't previously know: that West Point was established as the Army's training grounds because the Continental Army originally occupied the grounds to prevent the British army from controlling the Hudson River, and that more than 45 million people have served in the United States Army over its 250 years of existence. 

Here's the video, complete with hired actors, to introduce the uniforms:

The uniforms will hit the field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Dec. 13. We'll see what uniforms Navy has cooked up soon.