Published Jul 2, 2026, 10:05 AM EDT
America's birthday also coincides with a long friendship with France, with both countries coming together to honor World War I veterans.
The 250th birthday of the United States is also a reflection of the nation's global diplomacy, notably its long and friendly relationship with ally France. Both are coming together this weekend to honor American veterans. At 11 a.m. ET this Sunday, July 5, at Arlington National Cemetery representatives from both nations, including U.S. Gold Star Mothers who have lost children in recent conflicts, will mark 250 years of shared commitment to liberty by dedicating a restored World War I monument. Gold Star Mothers will place into the memorial “sacred soil” they gathered this past May from French and Belgian World War I battlefields. The original marker was created in 1929 by French artist and WWI veteran Gaston Beblaize and gifted by French veterans in memory of the Americans who fought and died to defend France during “The War to End All Wars.” Beblaize's first designed marker—a small ceramic piece of modest dimensions (13x5x3.5 cm)—was inspired by mileage stones he and his comrades reportedly encountered while marching along the roads.
