A Testament to Armed Forces Day

[Geee]

American Thinker:



Today is a special day for all of us who have served in any of the branches of the U.S. military. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. It's a day we all should observe and remember.

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated on May 20, 1950, just a month before the Korean War started. The new holiday was established the previous year. Prior to that, each of our military services had its own special day.

But when the various branches were all organized under a single department -- the Department of Defense -- the country seemed ready to recognize the totality of the individual forces and their combined dedication and sacrifice.

So it began. And almost immediately, we were in a war. The war was with North Korea, determined to take over South Korea. When things didn't go well for them, China was quick to enter the conflict, and a war that would last a full three years began in force.

I was drafted on November 6, 1953, the day my wife and I were married. It wasn't much of a wedding present.