ARMED FORCES DAY
Armed Forces Day on the third Saturday in May pays tribute to the military personnel serving in the United States Armed Forces. The celebration takes place each year during Armed Forces Week.

The United States Military is composed of six branches, including the Army, Airforce, Space Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. As of 2019, more than 1.3 million active-duty service members are stationed in the United States and around the world. An additional 800,000 reservists stand ready in the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. The holiday unites the country behind the men and women who currently serve in the United States military.

HOW TO OBSERVE #ArmedForcesDay
Volunteer for a veteran organization that supports those who are deployed. Organize care packages for service members or their families. Recognize a service member, you know. Learn more about the history of each branch of the military and how it has evolved. Discover more about your family’s military history, too. Most importantly, show support for those currently serving in the Armed Forces. Call them. Write to them. Send them a message and let them know you support them and respect the choices they’ve made to serve. Use #ArmedForcesDay to post on social media.

ARMED FORCES DAY HISTORY
It was with the idea for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country that President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish this single holiday. The one-day celebration then stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense. On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and Air Force Days.

The first observance on May 20, 1950, launched with parades, open houses, receptions, and air shows.

1962 – President John F. Kennedy established Armed Forces Day as an official holiday.
Bremerton, Washington hosts the United States’ longest-running city-sponsored Armed Forces Day Parade.
2012 – Bremerton celebrated the 64th year of the Parade.