Armed Forces Day/Week
A 12 MINUTE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO OF THE LONGEST RUNNING ARMED FORCES DAY PARADE, FROM BREMERTON, WASHINGTON.
Armed Forces Week is celebrated in the week leading up to Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday in May). For American service members, Armed Forces Week is an occasion to remember past and present service for all branches of the service. The week also includes “Children of Fallen Patriots Day” 13 May.
Armed Forces Day was observed for the first time on May 20, 1950, the day was created on August 31, 1949 to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches. Armed Forces Day/Week was created in the wake of the consolidation of military services under the United States Department of Defense.
Today, there are many Armed Forces Week events around the globe, but sources report the “longest continuously running Armed Forces Day Parade” for Americans is held in Bremerton, Washington. In 2018 Bremerton marked the 70th straight year of its Armed Forces Day Parade. Unfortunately, as expected, the festivities are postponed this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Armed Forces Week is another time for Americans to reflect on the sacrifices made by those in uniform, and local communities often pay tribute to their missing or fallen loved ones and friends. There may be ceremonies in your local area (especially if a military installation is nearby) to pay respects to those missing or killed in action.
Being as we cannot hold parades or visit military installations this year…
More ways to celebrate
- Wear red, white and blue
- Fly the American flag
- Thank a man or woman who serves or has served
- Talking with or writing to a military member
- Donate to veteran or military-based organizations
- Send care packages for those serving overseas
- Volunteer through the VA or a veterans service organization
What makes Armed Forces Day different from Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
Unlike Veterans Day, which honors those who served, and unlike Memorial Day, which honors those who died serving, Armed Forces Day is a day to honor all of the men and women currently serving as well as those who have served, both active and former military.
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Military Humor –
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Quarantine Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Arthur W. Barstow – Hadley, MA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 5th Air Force
Hilton Carter – New Orleans, LA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, MSSgt., Tuskegee pilot-crew chief-gunner
Daniel Daube – Donora, PA; US Air Force, WWII, Korea & Vietnam, Lt. Colonel (Ret.)
Carl Groesbeck – Chicago, IL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, bombardier-navigator, POW
Hansford ‘Hank’ Hancock – Greenville, KY; US Army, WWII, ETO
Dorville Johnson – Jonesboro, AR; US Navy, WWII & Korea (Ret. 21 y.)
Paul Krogh Jr. – Old Saybrook, CT; US Navy, WWII, USS Slater
Walter Mallin – Manchester, NH; US Army, WWII, Pearl Harbor survivor
Joseph Phillips – Toronto, CAN; RC Air Force, WWII, ETO, radioman-navigator
Jerry Stiller – Brooklyn, NY; US Army, WWII / Beloved actor
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Posted on May 14, 2020, in Current News, Home Front, Uncategorized and tagged Airborne, Armed Forces Day, Army, Coast Guard, History, Marines, Military, Military History, Navy, Tributes, USA, veterans, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 85 Comments.
A pleasure to always read your respects to the Military gp, in these times it seems that the Military past is overtaken by the view of the younger generation, and is based on what is going on now in the world, at the end of the day, the Military has always been the backbone of Democracy around the world and in America, cheers mate.
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Thank you – you have mirrored my own thoughts, Ian!!
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Lest We Forget
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Indeed!
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thank you, Rick!
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Well done, GP! Thank you for this post.
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My pleasure. Military Appreciation Month continues now until Memorial Day.
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Yes! Stay tuned for my repost of your flag story this week.
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I’m honored!
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I’ve been waiting till this week. 🙂
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Reblogged this morning, with pleasure! 🇺🇸
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Thank you, Jennie. Your patriotism inspires me just as it does your children.
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I’m so glad, GP. I wish all teachers could teach about the flag with some excitement, not just dull facts. Well, if they were excited, those facts wouldn’t be dull, would they? Songs are the way to open the door for children. Stay tuned for Thursday. 🙂
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I’ll be waiting. 😀
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I have nominated you for ideal inspiration blogger award. Please have a look https://daneelyunus.com/2020/05/17/ideal-inspiration-blogger-award-2/
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I thank you very much, I am honored. But I’m afraid I do not accept awards. I am merely an entity here reporting the deeds of wonderful and brave people.
Please shake the hand of a veteran.
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Most welcome, it’s ok
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Thank you for understanding.
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Most welcome
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We are so blessed to have so many who have served in the past and currently serve our country. They are unsung heroes.
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You never know who you’re talking to, that’s for sure!
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A heartfelt thanks to all who serve our country in the armed forces!
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Thank you, Liz. This will be sent out to thank them!!
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You’re welcome, GP!
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So nice to see so many come out to honor our Armed Forces. This is not a holiday celebrated locally but I like the idea of all branches of the service being celebrated. Is there a particular reason this town had such a fantastic parade?
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In order to answer that question, I’ll have to provide a little history.
First, there is no doubt that Bremerton is a proud Navy town! Bremerton was born in 1891, the same year as Naval Base Kitsap and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and the two have been inextricably entwined ever since.
How so, you ask? Naval Base Kitsap is by far the largest employer in Kitsap County and defense contractors make up a large percentage as well. Add to that the local industries and small businesses that support those employees and you get the picture.
Now back to history. Bremerton Chamber of Commerce was born not much later than Naval Base Kitsap, first as Bremerton Improvement Club (BIC) in 1902. Then Bremerton Board of Trade was started in 1904. Board of Trade absorbed BIC and was organized as Bremerton Chamber of Commerce in 1907 to promote PSNS and the affairs pertaining to the well being of Bremerton.
Fast forward to 1948 when Bremerton Chamber of Commerce organized a parade honoring Bremertonian John “Bud” Hawk after he was presented with the Medal of Honor for his heroism in World War II. The next year in 1949 Armed Forces Day became a national holiday honoring all branches of service. The Bremerton Armed Forces Day Parade has been running ever since and is the largest and longest running Armed Forces Day Parade in the nation. Bremerton Chamber of Commerce member businesses, like Parade Title Sponsor Kitsap Credit Union, step up to support the parade and contribute their time as well as their financial contributions. It’s truly a community effort.
Every year 20,000 people come to Bremerton and line the streets to celebrate our local armed forces. They want to acknowledge the service of this all too often overlooked part of our community and to say thank you…just as the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce has done since 1948!
Denise Frey, President and CEO
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Thank you for sharing the vidclip, GP! Happy Armed Forced Week, from me too. Have a beautiful weekend. Michael
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It was my pleasure! Since the parades this year are cancelled, I thought a bit of virtual fun was due!!
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Excellent, GP!
Happy Armed Forces Week!
Great video!
Humble, tearful gratitude to all of those who served, and those we are serving!
Love all of the humor…thanks for the laughs! 😀
(((HUGS))) 🙂
PS…I didn’t know Jerry Stiller served in WWII. Thank you for sharing his name. He brought lots of laughter in his acting career.
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Thank you for watching and enjoying the parade!!
Always happy to hear I gave someone a smile, we’re all in this together, we need to help each other thru it.
Mr. Stiller had quite a few interesting facets of his life.
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I just love the three bears’ cartoon. Here we have had had deer coming into the outskirts of cities and foxes even less afraid of humans than they normally are, which is saying something !
It’s a pity that many of the celebrations for Armed Forces Day may be cut short by the pandemic, but hopefully, something less elaborate than previous years may be possible.
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I’ve been hearing a lot about the Nature of our planet starting to repair itself due to the lack of human interference – so the cartoon seemed appropriate. Glad it gave you a smile, John!
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Loved watching the parade! Salute to our Armed Forces!!
I used to play the Battleship Game with the kids when they were young.
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The parade reminded me of my youth, it made me smile to watch it. I was hoping other people would like it too (especially since we can’t have one this year!)
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You explained the differences among the three days perfectly, GP. Even people who try to keep them straight can get re-confused, and it’s good to be reminded what the days have in common, and how they differ.
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That’s why I put the definitions in here. People can always come back and take a look.
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Remembering and appreciating all who have served.
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Thank you. I know you will!!
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you, JOHN!
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You are very welcome.
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Always good to remember and know the differences between Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, etc. Thanks, GP! And I love the mortar attack meme!
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People will always continue to confuse those 3 days, but now they can come here and re-check what each one stands for. Thanks for dropping in, DC!!
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You provide an excellent service, GP !
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Thank you, DC!!
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Peggy is making a quilt for Tony based primarily on his Coast Guard and Marine T-shirts he has gathered over his 23 years of service. It’s a nice way of saying thank you. –Curt
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It most certainly is! That’s an outstanding idea!!
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Thanks for reminding me. I better get my flag out on Saturday. 🙂
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Thata girl!! This National Military Appreciation Month, so every day would be appropriate as well.
And of course we should all be thanking you too. You took time out of your life to join the Navy – not every one does.
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Oh, after reading about Claire Phillips “High Pocktes” in the Bataan Penninsula, I don’t feel worthy. She deserves a statue. 😉
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There isn’t even a tomb. She was cremated and her ashes scattered.
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Thank you for sharing the parade, GP
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I was having a feeling a bit of virtual happiness and old time celebration might be needed about now.
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Good move. 😊
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You do parades very well over there. Nice video, GP. And I like the mortar joke too. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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We sure used to, Pete. I hope they get back to their usual glory once this is over with!
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Loved watching the parade, GP. 🙂
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You made me very happy knowing you watched it!! Thank you very much!
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You’ve done it again, GP. I fell well and patriotically greeted by the holiday. RT.
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Have either of your military off-spring mentioned anything going on this year? A bit difficult to make plans this year I suppose.
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Thanks for keeping the spirit of recognition alive, GP
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I’m happy to do it. Days like this tend to get brushed aside because it doesn’t give anyone a day off.
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That’s a very good point. Worse yet, the days that do earn you a day off aren’t usually spent celebrating the reason for the holiday.
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THAT always annoys the crap out of me!!
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Now I understand the difference between these three important days in your calendar.
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I appreciate your interest, Peter. You are always such a loyal reader!!
Stay safe, my friend!!
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👍👍👍👍
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Reblogged this on americanmilitaryfamilymuseum.
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Thank you very much!
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Love your article and love your toons and memes even more!! So hilarious🤣
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Happy to hear I had something that grabbed your interest!! 😁
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I always enjoy the humor after reading your serious historical piece. Good balance to have some joy after a dark time in history.
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That’s why there is so much military humor – the military feels the same way! I’m very happy you like the balance and keep coming back to see it!!!
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Thanks for remembering the members of our Armed Forces, GP. I’d also like to do a shout out to the American Red Cross and the USO. When I was deployed to Hungary, as an MWR specialist, I had the privilege of working closely with both the Red Cross and the USO. A service member could not go home for emergency leave unless the Red Cross had verified the information. One of my friends was a lesbian and her partner’s mother had just died. The local Red Cross helped her get permission to return to the states on emergency leave. The local USO could also provide things for the soldiers like computer and Internet access that the Army was not yet equipped to provide. (This was in the mid-90s when computers and Internet access was not as prevalent as it is now.)
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That is very nice to hear. The ARC was not as prevalent abroad during WWII, most of their work was on the home front. The British Red Cross was very active overseas though. The USO, IMO, is one of the best departments developed for a G.I.!
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No argument from me about the USO–they provide some wonderful entertainment and have the freedom to do a few things that the military does not permit its civilian or milibary members to do.
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😎
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This was great, GP! Thanks so much for sharing the parade with us.
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Nothing like a little virtual happiness about now, eh? I’m very happy you enjoyed it!
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Great suggestions on how tom get involved…..well done….chuq
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Thank you very much!
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😎
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Thanks. Humor is the best way to cope, isn’t it?!!
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