United In Strength

Several nations hold an annual Armed Forces Day to recognize and honor their military forces. In the United States Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of May.

On August 31, 1949 the United States’ Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, announced the creation of Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces Day too.

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated Saturday, May 20, 1950. Every year a theme is set, the theme for that first year was Teamed for Defense, which expressed the unification of all military forces under one government department. This year's theme is United In Strength.

Armed Forces Day is designed to expand public understanding of what type of jobs are performed and what the role of the military is. It is also a day to honor and acknowledge Americans in the armed forces and for the military to show their "state-of-the-art" equipment to the public. Parades, open houses, receptions and air shows were held at the inaugural Armed Forces Day. Armed Forces Day, a part of Armed Forces Week, is still celebrated nationwide today.

So please remember to thank all of the men and women in all branches of the service who protect our country. They can be called upon at a moment's notice to perform a risky and dangerous mission for freedom and country.