Today Is Armed Forces Day
Today, May 21st, is Armed Forces Day, the time we honor all personnel serving in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard. Thank you for your patriotic service in support of our country.
First observed on May 20th, 1950, Armed Forces Day was created to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches — the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard — following the consolidation of the military services in the U.S. Department of Defense. In 1949, then Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of a single Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration was intended to replace the separate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Days, but the separate days are still observed, especially within the respective services. In the United States, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. It falls near the end of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May (the fourth if the month begins on a Sunday, as in 2016).
