50
Ageless
Military
Dedicated
to all the men and women
who
have or are serving in our military.
God
Bless You
Pictures of the men from #50 Ageless
who served in our Arm Forces
Navy
Airforce
Army
Marines
Coast Guard
Ageless
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LST's Remembered
One For The Team
Military Rivalry
A
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Veteran's
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Can You Name This Country?
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Veterans of Foreign
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Armed Forces Day - U.S. Department
of Defense
TheHistoryNet - Where History
Lives on the Web
TheHistoryNet
Archives - Great Battles
What
did you do in the war, Grandma?
On August 31, 1949, Armed Forces Day
was created to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days.
The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed
Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense. Each of the military
leagues and orders was asked to drop sponsorship of its specific service
day in order to celebrate the newly announced Armed Forces Day.
The Army, Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day.
The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps
Day but supports Armed Forces Day, too.
In a speech,
President Truman announce the formation of Armed Forces Day.
He praised the work of military services at home and abroad.
President Truman 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:
" Now, therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim that Saturday, May 20, 1950, shall be known
as Armed Forces Day; and I invite the Governors of the States, Territories,
and possessions to issue proclamations calling for the celebration of that
day in such manner as to honor the Armed Forces of the United States and
the millions of veterans who have returned to civilian pursuits."
American troops are shown advancing in France during the first World
War.
Most of the soldiers are wearing gas masks; at left, a soldier without
a gas mask clutches his throat.
(The Bettmann Archive)
Gen. Douglas MacArthur wades ashore on the island of Leyte (Oct. 22,
1944), 2 1/2 years after his unwilling departure from the Philippines.
MacArthur's brilliant leadership in the southwest Pacific culminated in
the liberation (July 1945) of the Philippines. (The Bettmann Archive)
Celebrating Armed Forces Day always has served several purposes.
From its inception almost 50 years ago, it has served as an opportunity
for civilians to learn more about the armed forces' mission in promoting
national security.
It also was designed to increase public understanding of the role of
the military in a democratic society.
It is a day for the military to show off its state-of-the-art equipment.
And, most importantly, it is a day to honor
and acknowledge the people of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Let us not forget
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