Alton, Mo. – In honor of our armed forces, the United States and some others celebrate Armed Forces Day, which is May 16, 2020. Armed Forces Day is not a federal holiday.
Armed Forces
The armed forces include the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and the Coast Guard. The National Guard and Reserve also have armed forces day, but it can be on any weekend of May. Some activities that happen to celebrate Armed Forces Day is parades, open houses, receptions, and air shows. There are also military exercises on the land, sea, and air to honor the military members and to show off their state-of-the-art equipment to the civilians. [1]
History
The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated on May 20, 1950. Before Armed Forces Day was celebrated, there were separate days to honor the different branches of the military. On August 21, 1949, the Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, announced the creation of Armed Forces Day. Both current and former military men and women are honored on this day. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy declared Armed Forces Day as a national holiday. Armed Forces Day is held on the third Saturday of May every year. Each year there is a theme for that year’s Armed Forces Day.
Notes:
- ^“Armed Forces Day in the United States.” 14 May. 2020. (go back ↩)
