Palm Beach County residents and visitors are reminded that Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of every May, this year falling on May 21, 2022. Thank you to all, past, and present, who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Armed Forces Day is an extraordinary holiday for people all over the world to come together and thank the people of the United States Armed Forces.

President Harry S. Truman established the holiday in 1949. The creation of a single-day celebration for all five branches of the United States military made sense due to its recent unification under the Department of Defense. Armed Forces Day was celebrated for the first time on May 20, 1950.

President John F. Kennedy stated in 1963, "Our Servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace--many of them away from their homes, their friends, and their families. They are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and high resolve. They are also evidence of a harsh but inescapable truth--that the survival of freedom requires great cost and commitment, and great personal sacrifice."

Many events take place in cities across the U.S. to pay homage to those who serve on this day. These include military service displays for the public such as air shows, parades, open days, educational exhibits for children, and ‘Support the Troops’ motorbike rallies.

Be sure to mark your calendar and support our military!