Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
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, Marines Corp 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 announcing the formation of the day, President Truman "praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas" and 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: 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. Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. Armed Forces Week begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May, the day after Armed Forces Day.
SUBJ/-CJCS-ALMILACT MESSAGE 02-04, ARMED FORCES DAY 2004//
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TODAY, WE PAUSE TO HONOR THE NOBLE SERVICE OF THE
MEN AND WOMEN IN AMERICA'S MILITARY. THE THREAT OF TERRORISM IS GREAT, BUT YOUR WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY ARE GREATER. THOSE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA STAND BETWEEN LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, AS THEY HAVE FOR OVER TWO CENTURIES.
YOU HAVE PROVEN TO THE WORLD THAT THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES SEEK NOT TO CONQUER, BUT TO DEFEND FREEDOM, RESTORE PEACE AND CREATE HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE. ON MANY FRONTS, IN THE UNITED STATES AND ACROSS THE GLOBE, YOU STEPPED FORWARD WHEN CALLED AND ARE MAKING THE
WORLD A SAFER PLACE FOR ALL PEACE-LOVING PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, COLOR OR RELIGION.
ON THE FIRST ARMED FORCES DAY IN 1950, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL OMAR BRADLEY, SAID, "SACRIFICE NOT SELFISHNESS MUST BE THE ETERNAL PRICE OF LIBERTY. " THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF AND I JOIN ALL AMERICANS IN RECOGNIZING YOUR SELFLESS SACRIFICE, AS WELL AS THAT OF YOUR FAMILIES. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, CHARACTER AND SENSE OF DUTY. YOU ARE LEADING THE CHARGE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, FREE FROM TERROR AND FEAR. MAY GOD BLESS OUR NATION AND THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE US ARMED FORCES.
SIGNED: RICHARD B. MYERS, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF//
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On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marines Corp 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 announcing the formation of the day, President Truman "praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas" and 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: 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. Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. Armed Forces Week begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May, the day after Armed Forces Day.
SUBJ/-CJCS-ALMILACT MESSAGE 02-04, ARMED FORCES DAY 2004//
> GENTEXT/REMARKS/
TODAY, WE PAUSE TO HONOR THE NOBLE SERVICE OF THE
MEN AND WOMEN IN AMERICA'S MILITARY. THE THREAT OF TERRORISM IS GREAT, BUT YOUR WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY ARE GREATER. THOSE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA STAND BETWEEN LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, AS THEY HAVE FOR OVER TWO CENTURIES.
YOU HAVE PROVEN TO THE WORLD THAT THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES SEEK NOT TO CONQUER, BUT TO DEFEND FREEDOM, RESTORE PEACE AND CREATE HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE. ON MANY FRONTS, IN THE UNITED STATES AND ACROSS THE GLOBE, YOU STEPPED FORWARD WHEN CALLED AND ARE MAKING THE
WORLD A SAFER PLACE FOR ALL PEACE-LOVING PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, COLOR OR RELIGION.
ON THE FIRST ARMED FORCES DAY IN 1950, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL OMAR BRADLEY, SAID, "SACRIFICE NOT SELFISHNESS MUST BE THE ETERNAL PRICE OF LIBERTY. " THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF AND I JOIN ALL AMERICANS IN RECOGNIZING YOUR SELFLESS SACRIFICE, AS WELL AS THAT OF YOUR FAMILIES. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, CHARACTER AND SENSE OF DUTY. YOU ARE LEADING THE CHARGE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, FREE FROM TERROR AND FEAR. MAY GOD BLESS OUR NATION AND THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE US ARMED FORCES.
SIGNED: RICHARD B. MYERS, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF//
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