Armed Forces Day will be celebrated on Saturday, May 15th for the 62nd time in U.S. history.  Many organizations, military bases, and clubs across the nation celebrate this day in various fashions.

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated in 1949 to honor those who have served and who are currently serving in the five branches of the U.S. military.  It was designed to replace Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Days, representative of the unification of all five branches under the Department of Defense.   Although the days set aside for each military branch continue  to be celebrated.  President Truman called Americans to use the day to honor “the work of the military services at home and across the seas,” stressing the importance of the service to the country’s freedom and liberty.

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated with parades of military personnel and vehicles, including flyovers by military aircraft.  Currently, Armed Forces Day is still celebrated by parades, the most notable one being in Bremerton, Washington.  The city parade has taken place every year since the inception of Armed Forces Day.

It’s not only cities that hold celebrations in honor of military personnel, but Major League Baseball has given itself an image of promoting Armed Forces Day.  At each game played there is usually some form of a ceremony in which current soldiers take part in, and oftentimes fighter jets flyover the stadiums.

What does military surplus have to do with Armed Forces Day?  Everything!  You can show your support for our troops fighting for our freedom each time you use military surplus.  An easy way to do that is by wearing military clothing and accessories, such as an Army, Navy or Air Force shirt.

In 1963 President John F. Kennedy said, “”… Our Servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace–many of them away from their homes, their friends and their families. They are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and high resolve. They are also evidence of a harsh but inescapable truth–that the survival of freedom requires great cost and commitment, and great personal sacrifice.”

Written by Craig Kent, member of the Best Military Surplus team.