Armed Forces Day
United in Strength
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.
Notable Quotes from Leaders "The heritage of freedom must be guarded as carefully in peace as it was in war..." General Omar N. Bradley Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
"Armed Forces Day should serve to emphasize the practical application of unification in action, and to remind us of the continued need for unity in our Armed Forces and among all of our citizens in the interests of security and peace." Robert D. Lovett, Former Secretary of Defense
"It is fitting and proper that we devote one day each year to paying special tribute to those whose constancy and courage constitute one of the bulwarks guarding the freedom of this nation and the peace of the free world." President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953
"We cannot, in this day of exploding world competition on all fronts, be content to maintain the status quo. We must also realize that the preservation of our freedom in the years ahead may require greater sacrifices from us than those made by Americans who have walked before us." General Nathan F. Twining, 1960 Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
"... Our Servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace..." President John F. Kennedy, 1963
"At home and abroad, military men and women are showing purpose and dedication in defending American ideas." The Honorable Melvin Laird, 1972 Former Secretary of Defense
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