ROA is leaning into America 250 with this simple message: America’s Reserve lit the sparks that started the Revolutionary War. Those first shots at Lexington and Concord came from the muskets of militia, not “regular” forces but farmers and blacksmiths, officers and Noncommissioned Officers with little more than a few moments of preparation to face the British Army. Every veteran and current member of our Reserve forces should be proud of that lineage and celebrate it with us through 2026
Here’s how to join us!
- Join ROA’s America250 Challenge July 1-30, 2026, a nation-wide call to run, walk, or hike a total of 19.22 miles throughout the month. The distance equates to the route America’s citizen-warriors chased British regulars from Concorde into Boston. Registration will open in May at racery.com.
- Join ROA on July 4th as we partner with the Military Order of the World Wars and ring freedom bells for liberty at noon, right here at our ROA Headquarters in Washington D.C. You can host your own celebration of liberty that day at FreedomBells.org.
- For our Reserve-connected children, enter ROA’s Children’s Writing Contest, open from April 1-June 15, 2026, and tell the world how your family served, or serves, to protect the United States of America. Rules and entry/submission of essays, of no more that 500 words, are available on our website.
- Finally, we can directly engage those still serving in our communities, plug into local Family Readiness Groups, and support those working on July 4th in communities around America. ROA staff will be out and about around Washington D.C. to support our Guard members activated throughout the city. Our 22 Days of Service campaign begins in October-so take advantage of July, remembering our rich heritage as America’s citizen-warriors, and explore ways to directly support those who are still serving!