Honor veterans on Armed Forces Day
TODAY IS ARMED FORCES DAY — a day set aside to honor all branches of the military and their goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is celebrated the third Saturday each May.
Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced on Aug. 31, 1949, the creation of Armed Forces Day to replace separate days recognizing the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The single-day celebration coincided with the unification of the Armed Forces under one department — the Department of Defense — and each military league was asked to drop its individual days to adopt the newly created one.
The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces Day, too. President Harry Truman proclaimed the first Armed Forces Day on Feb. 27, 1950.
“Teamed for Defense” was the theme for the first Armed Forces Day to express unification of all the military forces under a single department. It also served as an “educational program for civilians” to increase awareness of the Armed Forces and expand public understanding of military’s role in civilian life.
Our communities have a deep military history and we hope everyone takes time to honor our veterans.
The men and women of our armed forces have given of themselves, sometimes even to the giving of their own lives, so we can all be free.
It may sound cliché, but freedom has never been free.
The liberties we all enjoy have come at great cost.
