Why We Drive: What America 250 Means from Behind the Wheel

It begins with motion. A team of veterans and allies will set off this June on a 2,470-mile journey from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to Los Angeles. This coast-to-coast rally marks America’s 250th birthday, and also commemorates the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.

The event is organized by Rally4Vets, a program under the Disabled Veteran Empowerment Network, which uses motorsports and outdoor adventure as tools for connection and healing among veterans. The rally begins June 17 and concludes June 22, tracing a symbolic route through the geography of American sacrifice and the spirit of its service.

At the front of the convoy will be Robert W. Hess, the organization’s founder and a combat-disabled veteran. For Hess, this rally is not a celebration in the traditional sense—it is an act of living remembrance.

“Every turn of the wheel on this rally is a tribute to those who’ve stood the watch for our freedoms,” Hess said. “From the Bedford Boys to today’s service members, we honor their sacrifices by driving coast to coast with purpose.”

The Landmarks That Shape Us

The route includes a stop at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia—a town that endured the highest per capita loss of life on D-Day. The memorial’s 44-foot “Overlord” arch anchors the site, connecting modern visitors to a moment in history that still echoes.

Since its dedication in 2001, the memorial has drawn more than a million visitors. It is not just a tribute to those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, but a touchstone for every generation that has followed.

The rally will also pass through VFW posts, American Legion halls, and local community centers where the idea of service is truly personal.

The Legacy on the Road

Hess believes this journey carries a message for everyone who sees it pass.

“We’re not just driving for fun—we’re driving to remind every American that service and sacrifice built this country,” he said. “The Army, Navy, and Marines have been standing the watch for 250 years, and we’re proud to honor that legacy on the open road.”

This sense of purpose informs every mile. Supporters across the country are invited to join the Rally4Vets team for segments of the drive, or to gather at stops along the route. Those who cannot attend in person will be able to follow in real time through a GPS tracker and daily video updates.

The journey concludes at the USS Iowa Battleship in San Pedro, California, but the message does not. It continues in conversations sparked at gas stations, at roadside coffee stops, and in hometowns that have long supported military service quietly, without fanfare.

Mission Meets Momentum

Rally4Vets is part of a broad mission to combat veteran suicide and fund life-saving programs, including service dog partnerships and peer engagement initiatives. This rally raises awareness, builds community, and reminds the country that patriotism can be active, grounded in motion and meaning.

Brands interested in aligning with the mission are invited to support the rally and help extend its message through national visibility and shared values.

The rally honors America by connecting its roads, its people, and its past. It does so not with spectacle, but with presence.

And that may be the most powerful form of remembrance there is.