ARMED FORCES DAY. (The Third Saturday In May).....
United States
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).
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First observed on 20 May 1950, the day was created on 31 August 1949 as President
Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank military members for their patriotic service in support of the republic and national interests and as a undeniable fact of American life. Secretary of Defense
Louis A. Johnson announced the creation 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 as part of a modern US Armed Forces. It 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.
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The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by
parades,
open houses, receptions and
air shows. The United States'
longest continuously running Armed Forces Day Parade is held in
Chattanooga, TN. In 2023, Chattanooga celebrated their 74th Armed Forces Day Parade.
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Because of their unique training schedules,
National Guard and
Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in the month of May.
On 19 May 2017, President
Donald Trump reaffirmed the Armed Forces Day holiday, marking the 70th anniversary since the creation of the Department of Defense.
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Aside from the Armed Forces Day the Armed Forces and the National Guard Bureau are honored on the following days:
- 29 March: Vietnam Veterans Day (general commemoration in the Armed Forces)[22]
- Last Monday of May: Memorial Day
- 14 June: Flag Day and Army Day (United States Army)
- 4 August: Coast Guard Day (United States Coast Guard)
- 17 September: Constitution Day (general commemoration in the Armed Forces)
- 18 September: Air Force Day (United States Air Force)
- 13 October: US Navy Birthday (United States Navy)
- 27 October: Navy Day (United States Navy)
- 10 November: Marine Corps Birthday (United States Marine Corps)
- 11 November: Veterans Day
- 13 December: National Guard Day (National Guard of the United States)
- 20 December: Space Force Birthday (United States Space Force)