Armed Forces Day:
What You Don't Know
Armed Forces Day is a special holiday for people all over the world to come together and thank the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. In support of our military and the celebrations happening on May 18, let's take a look at how this event came about and everything that transpired that led to the birth of the Armed Forces Day.
Armed Forces Day Creation
On August 31, 1949, United States Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announces a single holiday to celebrate all branches of the military. The first celebration of the Armed Forces Day took placed on May 20th the following year.
An Official Holiday
12 years after the very first celebration of the event, President John F. Kennedy establishes Armed Forces Day as an official holiday. Today, National Armed Forces Day is traditionally celebrated with parades honoring military service. Open houses, air shows, and other local celebrations usually accompany a parade. There are numerous local parades across the United States; there is sure to be one near you!
All for One
The military is made up of five branches — the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. This holiday is intended for members of all five of these branches. Originally it was meant to replace separate branch appreciation holidays, but these are also still celebrated today.
Cool Facts
- Current army troops wear blue instead of green as a tribute to George Washington and the men in his first command.
- It turns out there’s no significance to the three pin-stripes on the Navy jumper other than the fact that a majority of the men were decorating their collars with various types of white stripes, so it became part of the uniform.
- The American flag patch on military uniforms has the stars on the right and stripes on the left in order to give the effect that it's blowing in the breeze.
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Relevance in Today's World
Joining the US Armed Forces is an incredibly selfless act that deserves recognition. Soldiers and other military personnel risk their lives every day to keep citizens safe. This holiday is an opportunity for the average person to show support for that sacrifice and designed to help citizens better understand the military and its role in our society.
