As you go about your Saturday, you may want to pause a moment and thank the men and women who are serving for their country.
Today, Saturday, May, 19 is Armed Forces Day.
What is Armed Forces Day? According to the Department of Defense (DOD), it was created on August 31, 1949, by then Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson. Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense.
Each of the military leagues and orders was asked to drop sponsorship of its specific service day in order to celebrate the newly announced Armed Forces Day. The Army, Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day. The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces Day, too.
In a speech announcing the formation of the day, President Truman "praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas" and said, "it is vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace." In an excerpt from the Presidential Proclamation of Feb. 27, 1950, Mr. Truman stated:
Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America's defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense.
The theme of the first Armed Forces Day was "Teamed for Defense." It was chosen as a means of expressing the unification of all the military forces under a single department of the government. Although this was the theme for the day, there were several other purposes for holding Armed Forces Day. It was a type of "educational program for civilians," one in which there would be an increased awareness of the Armed Forces. It was designed to expand public understanding of what type of job is performed and the role of the military in civilian life. It was a day for the military to show "state-of-the-art" equipment to the civilian population they were protecting. And it was a day to honor and acknowledge the people of the Armed Forces of the United States.
The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions, and air shows. In Washington D.C., 10,000 troops of all branches of the military, cadets, and veterans marched pass the President and his party. In Berlin, 1,000 U.S. troops paraded for the German citizens at Templehof Airfield. In New York City, an estimated 33,000 participants initiated Armed Forces Day "under an air cover of 250 military planes of all types." In the harbors across the country were the famed mothballed "battlewagons" of World War II, the Missouri, the New Jersey, the North Carolina, and the Iowa, all open for public inspection. Precision flying teams dominated the skies as tracking radar were exhibited on the ground. All across the country, the American people joined together to honor the Armed Forces.
U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Emerging Threats Subcommittee, released the following statement Friday about Armed Forces Day on May 19:
"Today we honor the men and women of our armed forces who are serving our country with courage and dedication even in the most perilous circumstances. More than 16,000 North Carolinians are currently serving overseas, and we owe these men and women a debt of gratitude for their unwavering commitment to keeping us safe not just today, but every day of the year.
"I also want to thank the spouses and families behind our service men and women who provide the strength and support our warriors need to complete each mission. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will continue working to ensure our military and their families have the resources and support they need and deserve."
Senator Hagan comes from a proud military family. Her father-in-law was a two-star Marine General; her brother and father both served in the Navy; her husband, Chip, is a Vietnam veteran; and she has two nephews on active duty.
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US Department of Defense