In honor of Memorial Day, I thought it only fitting to clear up any confusion surrounding the purposes of the three military holidays, Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, and Veterans Day. Each day is special and deserves to be celebrated.
Memorial Day will be observed on May 30, 2022. It is a day to honor those who died serving their country. It should not be confused with Armed Forces Day (The third Saturday in May) when men and women currently serving in the military are thanked for their service or Veterans Day (November 11) when all honorably discharged veterans of the U. S. military are honored.
On Memorial Day, at 3pm local time, all Americans are asked to observe a moment of silence to stop and reflect upon the men and women of the United States military who have lost their lives defending our Nation and its values.
To celebrate this day, many will attend parades and visit memorials. People will share how their loved ones died and how it affected their families. They will visit cemeteries and bring flowers. American flags will be placed on graves to honor fallen comrades.
People will gather together at picnics and cookouts to celebrate the many freedoms we enjoy because of the sacrifices of these men and women.
I hope it is also a day for us to make peace a priority, so fewer families will lose a loved one to war.
Armed Forces Day was established in 1949 by President Harry S. Truman. It is observed on the third Saturday in May. The first observance of Armed Forces Day was May 20, 1950. This year it will be Saturday May 21st. It is a day for people to thank the men and women currently serving in the United States military.
In 1775, The Continental Congress established the Continental Army, Continental Navy, and Continental Marines. General George Washington led these forces.
The five branches of the U.S. Military* are:
Army
Navy
Marines
Air Force
Coast Guard
*The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard are reserve components of their services and operate, in part, under state authority.
On Armed Forces Day people attend parades, picnics, and cookouts, or go to public displays set up by the military to share their history with the public. Many people will also visit cemeteries and memorial sites.
If you have a friend or family member serving in the military, you can call, text, video chat or send them a card or write a note thanking them for their service. It takes only minutes, but it will make their day.
Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day until 1954) is celebrated on November 11 to recognize all honorably discharged veterans of the United States Military and thank them for their service. It