ARMED FORCES DAY~~ May 21st 2011

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, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense

My niece Carmen posted on her blog about today being Armed Forces Day. I didn't know that it was today. I wish I could fly my flag to honor those wonderful men and women, but it is raining buckets here. So, here is where I will fly my flag today. I am so grateful for all that these men, women and their brave families do and have given so that I can sit here complacently doing as I wish. Worshipping, speaking, thinking as I wish. Going out target practicing if I wish and on and on.
We are particularly thankful and proud of our own family members who have served or are serving. THANK YOU!!

Here is a little more information from Wikipedia.
"In the United States, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. It falls near the end of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May.^[15]
The day was created in 1949 to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches – the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard – following the consolidation of the military services in the Department of Defense. It was intended to replace the separate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Days, but the separate days are still observed, especially within the respective services.^[16]
The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions and air shows. In 1962, President Kennedy established Armed Forces Day as an official holiday. The United States' longest running city-sponsored Armed Forces Day Parade is held in Bremerton, Washington. In 2009, Bremerton celebrated the 61st Armed Forces Day Parade(^[17]).
Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May."