‘Let us try’: Corps of Engineers celebrates 250 years of service

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — City leaders and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials gathered at Washington Street Park on Wednesday, June 18, to celebrate the agency’s 250th anniversary and its enduring impact on Vicksburg, the state, and the nation.

Ward 1 Alderman Thomas “T.J.” Mayfield thanked the Corps for its two and a half centuries of service and dedication, “not just to Vicksburg, but to the state of Mississippi and to this great country.”

For 250 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has managed the nation’s civil works, developed outdoor recreation areas, and led disaster response efforts. Their motto, “Essayons,” is a French phrase meaning “Let us try.”

During the ceremony, Sam Andrews, on behalf of Governor Tate Reeves, presented a plaque acknowledging June 2025 as “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Month.”

Maj. Gen. Kimberly Peeples, commanding general of the Mississippi Valley Division, noted the Corps’ evolution since its founding in 1775.

“Today’s Corps does look different than the Corps of 1775,” said Peeples. “We use satellites and simulation models now. We deploy civilians and soldiers side by side. We partner with the Coast Guard, National Guard, levee boards, and local leaders—sometimes by text or email. Our mission has not changed; it has simply evolved.”

“The next 250 years will bring more water, bigger storms, faster decisions, and greater risk,” she said. “But here’s what won’t change: the Army is still on the watch, and the Mississippi River is still vital to our national security.”

Dr. Beth Fleming, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, echoed that message.

“The future is being built as we speak,” said Fleming. “And as we have always been, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the foundation to building that future. I am more confident of that than anything in this world.”