5.21.2005
| Armed Forces Day "America Supports You" Saturday, May 21, 2005 | |
 High Resolution Version | President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country. On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense. Read more statements by Presidents and military leaders here=> |
In a speech announcing the formation of the day, President Truman "praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas" and said, "it is vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace." In an excerpt from the Presidential Proclamation of Feb. 27, 1950, Mr. Truman stated:
Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America's defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, 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
The theme of the first Armed Forces Day was "Teamed for Defense." It was chosen as a means of expressing the unification of all the military forces under a single department of the government. Although this was the theme for the day, there were several other purposes for holding Armed Forces Day. It was a type of "educational program for civilians," one in which there would be an increased awareness of the Armed Forces. It was designed to expand public understanding of what type of job is performed and the role of the military in civilian life. It was a day for the military to show "state-of-the-art" equipment to the civilian population they were protecting. And it was a day to honor and acknowledge the people of the Armed Forces of the United States.
I visited Fort Slocum on Armed Forces Day as a child for about 10 years, until the Post was closed by LBJ (cursed be his name!) in 1965. My Father worked there as a civilian employee. Thus, the Fort, and the military were always a significan part of my childhood.
Kiss a veteran today -- it might be me!
"My" Armed Forces Day Fort
# posted by Frank_D @ 22:08 
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Hello,
I take it you've visited the website already, but you are welcome to join our network, Fort Slocum Alumni & Friends. We'd like to hear about your experiences, and share some photos. Email michaelacavanaugh@earthlink.net
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I take it you've visited the website already, but you are welcome to join our network, Fort Slocum Alumni & Friends. We'd like to hear about your experiences, and share some photos. Email michaelacavanaugh@earthlink.net
# posted by 
: 11:14 PM
: 11:14 PM << Home
