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58th Annual Armed Forces Day Makes ‘Salute to Service’
By
Michael A. Piekarz
Staff Writer
The
58th annual Armed Forces Day, dedicated to recognizing the men and
woman in each branch of the military service along with past and
present sacrifices made for their country, will be celebrated on
Saturday, May 17. The event is held on the third Saturday of every
May and is the culmination of Armed Forces Week.
Armed Forces Day dates back to August 31, 1949, when Secretary of Defense Louis
Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army,
Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification
of the armed forces under the Department of Defense.
On February 27, 1950, President Harry S. Truman officially proclaimed Armed Forces
Day and stated that, “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,” chosen
as a means of expressing the unification of all the military forces under a single
department of government. Since then, each Armed Forces Day is similarly themed.
The theme for 2008 is “Salute to Service.”
While Armed Forces Day serves primarily to honor and acknowledge the men and
women of the armed forces of the United States, the event has another purpose.
It was designed to expand the public’s understanding of military job performance
and the role of the military in civilian life.
In celebration of Armed Forces Day, The California State Military Museum will
be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 17. Admission is free to veterans and members
of the armed forces with an identification card. The museum is located at 1119
Second Street in Sacramento, and the telephone number is (916) 442-2883.
This page and its contents ©2008
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
