Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day is an annual observance in the United States, celebrated on the third Saturday of May, that honors the men and women of the military. Established in 1949 following the National Security Act of 1947, which unified the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force under the Department of Defense, this day emphasizes the cooperation and shared purpose of the armed services. Before its inception, each branch had its own commemorative days; Armed Forces Day consolidated these observances, while still allowing individual celebrations to continue in military contexts. The day features a variety of events, including parades, church services, and military balls, where civilians express gratitude for the service members' contributions. Military installations often hold open houses, showcasing the latest advancements in defense technology and offering the public a chance to engage with the armed forces. Official proclamations from the president and state governors mark the day, further highlighting its significance in promoting awareness and appreciation of military service. Overall, Armed Forces Day serves as a vital occasion for both military and civilian communities to come together in recognition of the sacrifices and dedication of service members.
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Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day
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To increase military efficiency and encourage interservice cooperation, Congress on July 26, 1947, approved the National Security Act. This legislation coordinated the US Army, Navy, and Air Force into a single national military establishment, created the new cabinet post of secretary of defense, and consolidated the executive Departments of War and of the Navy into a single Department of Defense. In keeping with this emphasis on the unity and common purposes of the various branches of the US military, a new day of observance, Armed Forces Day, came into existence in 1949. Armed Services Day is observed annually on the third Saturday in May.
Prior to 1949, the three branches of the armed services held elaborate observances on three separate days of the year. The Army held its observance on April 6, the anniversary of American entry into World War I; the Navy held its on the October 27 birthdate of Theodore Roosevelt, its champion; and the Air Force held its on the second Saturday in September, close to the date when it was first established as a separate service on September 18, 1947. President Harry S. Truman's proclamation of 1949, initiating the third Saturday in May as Armed Forces Day, did not eliminate these individual celebrations. However, it did more or less reduce them to intraservice or private commemorations designed to promote the particular traditions and achievements of each of the branches of the armed forces.
Commemorations of each service unit's days of importance are generally confined to military installations, but celebrations of Armed Forces Day reach a much wider audience. Every year, the president of the United States and the governors of several states issue official proclamations declaring the third Saturday in May as Armed Forces Day. Throughout the country, both civilians and the military participate in the day's events. Citizens express their gratitude to the nation's millions of service members with parades, special church services, military balls, and other events. The armed forces, for their part, take the opportunity to acquaint the public with the latest military advances. Many Army posts hold open houses featuring tactical and weapons displays, the Navy often permits civilians to tour vessels in port, and some Air Force bases present demonstrations of precision flying. Often, the president and highly placed members of the defense establishment are witnesses to special exhibitions of the nation's defense readiness.
"Armed Forces Day: May 20, 2023." US Census Bureau, 20 May 2023, www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/armed-forces-day.html. Accessed 1 May 2024.
Lee, Joseph Andrew. "When Is Armed Forces Day?" United Service Organizations (USO), 17 May 2022, www.uso.org/stories/2225-when-is-armed-forces-day. Accessed 1 May 2024.