The third Saturday in May is designated Armed Forces Day, also marking the end of Armed Forces Week. Both recognitions are designed to expand public understanding of the military and its role in civilian life. Parades, open houses, and receptions were held on the first Armed Forces Day on May 20, 1950. They continue today on military bases worldwide. Examples include activities such as the early morning America’s Armed Forces Kids Run, open to military families, and the Armed Forces Day Concert held annually at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 

At the end of World War II, President Harry Truman proposed to the U.S. Congress the creation of a unified Department of National Defense with one secretary as its head, citing both wasteful military spending and interdepartmental conflicts. On July 26, 1947, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, which set up a unified military command in a Department of Defense known at the time as the National Military Establishment. The landmark legislation also created the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

On August 10, 1949, the National Military Establishment was renamed the Department of Defense in an amendment to the original 1947 law. The renaming is alleged because the Establishment’s abbreviation, NME, was pronounced “enemy”.

Three weeks later on August 31, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace the separate Army, Navy, and Air Force Days. The idea was for citizens to come together to thank service members for their patriotic service in support of the country. The Army, Navy, and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day and dropped their individual recognition days. For more history about Armed Forces Day and how the day is observed, click here.