Armed Forces Day honors those not looking for attention

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine
  • Air Force Print News
SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  Armed Forces Day is here!

Sound the trumpets. Break out the confetti. Call the local news. Grab an excited politician flashing a used car salesman's smile. It is Armed Forces Day.

Yeah. Armed Forces Day has nothing to do with any of that.

What does it have to do with? It is a blue-collar holiday focusing on a simple thing that every mom and dad across the planet teaches their kids from an early age: being thankful.

Don't get me wrong. I can still vividly remember jumping up and down with excitement as the old "brown shoe" veterans rolled by on endless floats, tossing peppermints, waves and beaming smiles to the parade crowds. It was great and they deserved it.

But, the pomp and circumstance of holiday happenings isn't really the important thing about Armed Forces Day. In fact, when Pres. Harry Truman institutionalized the first Armed Forces Day on May 20, 1950, it was with the purpose of giving the average citizen a chance to thank military members for their patriotic service in support of America.

In President Truman's speech announcing the holiday, he "praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas" and said the holiday was "vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace."

I know that was back in 1950. How does that affect us today? My wife gave me the answer to that last night at dinner.

I helped my wife finish making dinner. Then I set the table and got our three daughters situated. After the meal began, she gentle reached over and squeezed my hand. She smiled warmly and simply said, "Thanks."

It felt great. It felt great just to know that at least one person appreciates what I did. And that is really what Armed Forces Day is about.

We all volunteered to wear this uniform every day not for ticker-tape parades or to get our pictures in the paper. Each of us wears it for our own reasons, but it sure feels good to know that the people we serve appreciate the sacrifices that they don't even know we make.

So if you are out on this Armed Forces Day look for Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman. Walk right up to him or her, thrust out a hearty hand and say "Thanks."

I'll bet they will appreciate it more than you'll ever know, and I bet you'll feel pretty good too.