Armed Forces Day: All you need to know about date, history and celebrations

Many countries dedicate a day to commemorate the sacrifices made by their armed forces. In the United States, this day is marked on the third Saturday of May. This year, the day will be marked on 21 May. Armed Forces Day honours people who have served, or are currently serving, the United States in uniform in times of peace and war. The day also honours individuals who are part of the US Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve units. It is part of Armed Forces Week, which lasts from the second Saturday of May to the third Sunday of the month. When was the day first observed? According to the Department of Defense, in 1949, then Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson declared the establishment of a special day for armed forces to replace separate Navy, Army and Air Force Days. The day also marked the convergence of the armed forces under the Department of Defense. The first Armed Forces Day was observed on 20 May, 1950. The Army Day Parade held annually in April in Washington, D.C. was replaced by an Armed Forces Day Parade, which took place in the third week of May. The theme of the celebrations was “Teamed for Defense” to demonstrate the “unification of all the military forces under a single department of the government”. The day was also organised so that civilians could get more knowledge about the armed forces of the US and to acknowledge the role played by the military. Armed Forces Day also highlights the achievements of the US military throughout the years. How is the day marked? The Armed Forces Day sees large parades and local celebrations in many parts of the United States. Various activities and events are organised to teach young people and kids about the troops and the sacrifices they have made for the country. “Support the Troops” themed motorcycle rides are also organised on this occasion. Some facts about the US military:

• According to the Global Fire Power annual ranking 2022, the US military is ranked top in the world.
•  In terms of manpower, the country is just behind China and India.
• The US military has the largest number of fighters/ interceptors, attack helicopters, trainers and tanker fleet in the world.
• It also had the maximum number of destroyers and helicopter carriers as compared to other naval forces.
• The US also has 45,193 armoured vehicles, the most in the world.

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