Fort Belvoir invites community to celebrate Army birthday and Flag Day

Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith visits teacher Emily Lawrence’s fourth grade class at Woodley Hills Elementary School.

June 14 is both the Army’s 243rd birthday and Flag Day, and Fort Belvoir will be celebrating the two occasions with a special event that’s open to the public.

Thursday morning from 10 to 11 a.m., the installation will hold a ceremony in front of the Garrison Headquarters (9820 Flagler Road, Building 269) followed by cake and light refreshments. According to Fort Belvoir’s Public Affairs Office, the theme for this year’s birthday celebration is “Over There! A Celebration of Army Heroes from WWI to Present Day,” which allows the Army “to focus on the ongoing 100th anniversary of WWI milestones and to amplify the accomplishments of today’s force.”

The guest speaker at Fort Belvoir’s celebration will be Lt. Gen. Leslie C. Smith, the Army Inspector General.

Smith — who was sworn in to his new position this past February — is recognized among other things for his teambuilding, mentoring and community-building initiatives. This past April, he spent time at Woodley Hills Elementary School talking with school children on Career Day.
Earlier this month, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors designated the week of June 9-16 as Army Week in Fairfax County, and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck credited Fort Belvoir — the county’s largest employer — as being a good neighbor and valuable partner to the district.

Community residents without a Defense Department identification card who wish to attend Thursday’s special event can do so by bringing their driver’s license to the Visitor’s Center at Tulley Gate and securing a guest pass. More information on base access is available here.