Armed Forces Day Is May 21

By Susan Smith Kline

Armed Forces Day was created on August 31, 1949, by then-Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The event stemmed from the Armed Forces’ unification under one Department of Defense by then-President Harry S. Truman when he signed the National Security Act into law on July 26, 1947.
According to the Department of Defense, originally, Armed Forces Day 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.
The armed forces consists of six service branches: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force.
As the largest and oldest service in the U.S. military, the Army provides the ground forces that protect the United States
A component of the Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps maintains amphibious and ground units for contingency and combat operations.
On, above and below the water, the Navy is America’s forward-deployed force and is a major deterrent to aggression around the world.
The Air Force provides a rapid, flexible, and lethal air and space capability that can deliver forces anywhere in the world within hours.
The Coast Guard provides law and maritime safety enforcement, marine and environmental protection and military naval support. Part of the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, the Coast Guard operates under the Navy during times of war.
The Space Force organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force
And let us not forget the National Guard. Composed of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard, the National Guard is a versatile force, supporting combat missions, domestic emergencies, humanitarian efforts, homeland security operations and more
We value all current and former members of the armed forces. Our country’s greatness is formed on the foundation of your spirit, commitment, and sacrifice. Thank you so much!