Greetings from Homecoming 250

www.homecoming250.org

March 2025

Latest News from Homecoming 250

We're barely six months away from the spectacular

national Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration event!

From our President, George Leone

Spring is bringing great things for Homecoming 250! The Philadelphia Inquirer recognized the great work of our volunteers to bring the national Navy & Marine Corps 250^th Celebration to their Philadelphia birthplace and the whole area. We are happy to be recognized as a Semiquincentennial success story. We thank all our volunteers who are making this great event a reality!

We continue to add exciting events and participants to the Navy & Marine Corps 250^th Celebration. We are delighted to partner with WHYY to give a sneak peak of the highlights of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution on Independence Mall on October 9. The Navy and Army women’s soccer teams will join the men’s teams to contest the Army-Navy Cup on October 10. At our request, the Navy-Temple football game is now scheduled to occur at the Linc on October 11. 

The Marine Corps has two top-ranked bands – The President’s Own and The Commandant’s Own - and it looks like one of them will join the elite U.S. Navy Band at our Victory at Sea Concert on October 12. We are planning a spectacular Salute to Youth Parade on October 13, whose young participants will get to see the Navy 250^th Commemoration and the Blue Angels fly over Independence Hall.  

And we are planning an Innovation Pavilion that will feature naval high tech and maritime workforce development from October 9 to 15. Thanks to the Navy, Marines, and all our partners!

Last but not least, the City of Philadelphia authorized a $500,000 appropriation to support our national Navy & Marine Corps 250^th Celebration, which matched the $500,000 challenge grant we received from the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial. Our deepest thanks to Mayor Parker, City Council, the Collaborative, and all who helped! This will spur other public funding, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations, all of which we need to host a spectacular kickoff for America’s 250^th. 

Thanks to all of you who have donated and sponsored! To the rest, come join the party! -- George

Tickets Tickets! How do I get tickets?

Most of our events are free and open to the public, but tickets will be required for the Navy 250 Gala and Marine Corps Birthday Ball. We get a lot of emails asking about how to get tickets.

Homecoming 250 has confirmed that the Navy 250 Gala will be Saturday, October 11, at the National Constitution Center, which overlooks Philadelphia’s Independence Mall and Independence Hall where the Navy was born.



Homecoming 250 has also confirmed that the 100^th Marine Corps Birthday Ball will be held at the Bellevue Hotel, the site of the very first Marine Corps Birthday Ball, instituted by General Lejeune in 1925. It will be held on the Marine Corps’ 250^th Birthday, Monday, November 10^th, just a few blocks south of Philadelphia’s City Hall.

Both balls will be plated dinners.

The venues and caterers are top-notch. And the demand will far exceed the number of seats. We are still determining how much the tickets will cost and how they will be allocated. We appreciate your patience.

In the meantime, please email us if you want to attend the Gala or the Ball, so we can put your name and your request on our list. If you are interested in the Navy 250 Gala on October 11, email us at Navy250Gala@homecoming250.org. 

If you are interested in the 100^th Marine Corps Birthday Ball on the November 10^th 250^th Anniversary of the Marines, please email us at Marine250Ball@homecoming250.org. 



Be sure to include how many tickets you want. We will give you immediate notification of the opportunity to purchase tickets, and will include you in whatever mechanism (e.g., lottery) that we devise to allocate these widely-sought tickets for the once-in-a lifetime 250^th Gala and Ball.  



More Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I want to come! Where should I stay?

Professionals have estimated that over 310,000 people will attend the national Navy & Marine Corps 250^th Celebration, and over 130,000 will need to find hotel rooms. To make that as easy as possible, we are working with the hotels and Convention and Visitors Bureaus in Philadelphia and the surrounding PA and NJ counties. Please check our website in April for more information. In the meantime, you can contact our Lodging Coordinator Dawne Link Aycock at lodging@homecoming250.org. Please indicate the number of people in your party, and whether you are a veterans group.  

Q: I can only stay for two or three days. What events should I attend? Much as we would love for you to stay the week, October 9-16, and return the weekend of November 10, we realize this may not be possible for all of you. See the event list below to decide which are the must-attend events for you! The Parade of Ships on October 9^th, the All Veterans Reunion Picnic and Victory at Sea Concert on October 12^th, the actual Navy Birthday on October 13^th, and the Marine Corps Birthday on November 10th will be some of the biggest events. Many of the events are free!

Q: How do I sign up for ship tours? What about my group or organization? While we know about eight Navy ships are coming, we don't have the touring times yet. We'll let you know about individual and group tours closer to the event dates. 



If you're part of a group, we can send that info to our event coordinator. Email Monica Hallman with the group name, point of contact, and approximately how many people in the group. The Navy and historical ships will be open for touring at least from October 10-15.

Homecoming 250, Navy and Marine Corps Events in October & November 2025

NOTE: This is a current list of confirmed events. More coming soon!

 NAVY & MARINE CORPS 250TH CELEBRATION PUBLIC EVENTS

Homecoming 250 Event Schedule 3/30/25

The schedule of events, key speakers, and participants’ information reflect current information, but are tentative and/or subject to change.

This is a current list of the major public events of the national Navy & Marine Corps 250^th Celebration. More coming soon!

Schedule of Events on both sides of the Delaware include

- Exhibits at Participating Museums (Summer 2025 – Winter 2025)

Visit exhibits on Navy & Marine Corps history at participating museums including: American Helicopter Museum, the American Swedish Historical Museum, The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, Independence Seaport Museum, and the Library Company of Philadelphia

- Parade of Ships and Opening Ceremonies (October 9, 2025)

Join for watch parties along the Delaware River as multiple Navy ships and other vessels sail to Philadelphia and the Camden area. Their arrival at their berths will be celebrated with opening ceremonies and blessing of the fleet. Locations will be announced soon. Free and open to the public.

- Touring of the Ships (October 9, 2025 - October 16, 2025)

The public will be able to tour the Navy ships, Coast Guard vessels, and historic ships, including the Battleship New Jersey, Cruiser Olympia, the Submarine Becuna. We have invited ships from the American Revolution to today, including ships important to the Marine Corps. Tours will be at their berths in Philadelphia and the Camden area, and much or all touring will be free to the public.

- WHYY Preview of Ken Burns’ Documentary “The American Revolution” (October 9, 2025)

Enjoy a preview of Ken Burns’ latest documentary on “The American Revolution” on Independence Mall. Rain date: October 10th. Free and open to the public.

- Performances at Independence National Historical Park and Elsewhere by The United States Navy Band, USMC Bands, and Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon (October 9-16, 2025)

The performances by these talented military organizations will be free and open to the public.

- Navy-Temple Football Game (October 11, 2025)

 Root for the Fleet and/or their Philadelphia hosts when Navy and Temple renew their multi-decade rivalry at Lincoln Financial Field, this time with all the pageantry the Navy & Marine Corps 250^th Celebration deserves. Tickets required.

- Navy 250 Gala (October 11, 2025)

Toast the Navy’s 250^th Birthday with naval leadership at this gala at the National Constitution Center overlooking Independence hall where the Navy was born. Check back here for updates, or be among the first to get access to ticket sales by emailing us at Navy250Gala@homecoming250.org

All Veterans Reunion Picnic (October 12, 2025)

- A Sunday picnic for Veterans from all armed services and their families filling Independence Mall with a day of food, fun, and camaraderie. This event will feature Veteran Service Organizations offering resources and opportunities to those who served. Attendance is free, with food available to Veterans and their families. Veterans can click here and indicate their desire to attend the picnic.

- “Victory At Sea” Concert and Fireworks (October 12, 2025)

A star-studded popular patriotic concert on Independence Mall featuring The U.S. Navy Band, an elite Marine Band, and other headliners, and followed by an aerial sound and light spectacular. Free and open to the public.

- Memorial Service for Navy and Marine Corps at Christ Church (October 13, 2025)

Join to remember and honor those who gave all in the service of our country at Philadelphia’s historic Christ Church near where the first Navy ship was commissioned.

- Homecoming 250 Salute to Youth Parade (October 13, 2025)

A parade saluting young people on the path to joining all branches of the military, including Naval Academy midshipmen and ROTC, NROTC, and JROTC students. The music and fun-filled parade will conclude at Independence Mall in time for …

- Navy 250^th Commemoration at Independence Hall (October 13, 2025)

A commemoration honoring the 250th anniversary of the Navy’s founding at Independence Hall with addresses by the Secretary of the Navy, the uniformed head of the Navy, and more. Free and open to the public. It will include …

- Flyover by the Blue Angels (October 13, 2025)

To commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Navy, the Blue Angels will fly over Independence Hall during the Navy 250^th Commemoration and do an area wide fly over. Other military aircraft will fly over the area on other days. Free and open to the public.

- Closing Ceremonies and Ship Departures (October 15-16, 2025)

Help send off the Navy ships as they leave Philadelphia and Camden for their home ports. Free and open to the public.

- Marine Corps Commemoration at Independence Hall (November 10, 2025)

A commemoration honoring the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps founding at Independence Hall with addresses by the SECNAV, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and more. Free and open to the public.

- Toast the Recreation of The Tun (November 10, 2025)

The Tun, a historic tavern and birthplace of the Marine Corps, is being recreated near its original location. Come celebrate on the 250^th birthday of the Corps and see the progress of its reconstruction on 2nd Street between Market and Chestnut Streets. It will be a gathering place for generations to come. 

- 100th Marine Corps Birthday Ball (November 10, 2025)

Come celebrate 250 years of the Marine Corps at the birthplace of one of its most sacred traditions – the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. The 100^th Marine Corps Birthday Ball will be in the same ballroom where Commandant Lejeune held the first Marine Corps Birthday Ball 100 years before. Ticket prices and availability are being determined. Check back here for updates, or be among the first to get access to ticket sales by clicking Marine250Ball@homecoming250.org and indicating your desire to attend.

We have many more events in the works and we will share them here when they are ready to be released to the public. You can also stay current on the latest information and ticket sales by signing up for our newsletter here. Be sure to say "Add me to the newsletter please!"

Please see our website: www.homecoming250.org to donate or get involved.

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