The History of National Armed Forces Day

National Armed Forces Day is celebrated on every third Saturday in the month of May. This year, that falls on May 16.

National Armed Forces Day was created to commemorate all the brave people who serve in the Armed Forces: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. President Harry S. Truman was the one to create this prestigious holiday. Some may think Armed Forces day is too similar to Veterans’ Day, but, National Armed Forces Day is different from Veterans’ Day because Veterans’ Day honors all military veterans and Armed Forces Day celebrates only those who are currently serving.

The ever first Armed Forces Day was held on May 20, 1950. America celebrated when “B-36 Bombers flew over state capitals, a march was led by more than 10,000 veterans and troops in Washington, D.C., and over 33,000 people participated in a New York City parade,” according to https://militarybenefits.info/armed-forces-day/#ixzz6L1ULz6ms.

President Harry S. Truman had this to say in his speech the first time National Armed Forces day was celebrated: It “marks the first combined demonstration by America’s defense team of its progress…towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense.”