Saturday is Armed Forces Day.

The day’s first celebration, announced by President Harry Truman in 1950, focused on the concept “Teamed for Defense.” In years following, themes have ranged from “Power for Peace” to “Protectors of Freedom” and this year, “United in Strength.”

Parades, ceremonies, and sales mark many holidays, including Memorial Day, which follows closely, but Armed Forces Day, not so much. Our neighbors in Bremerton have the distinction of having America’s largest and longest running Armed Forces Day parade (see our calendar on page 12), but there are no organized events here. That doesn’t seem to alter how military folks in Oak Harbor view the day.

Take Aviation Electronics Technician Ryan Hawkins, who expressed his thoughts about Armed Forces Day, and how to best observe it:

“Picnics and barbecues both sound like something cool to do,” he said.

His friends, Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Jon Tanner, and wife, Bekka, agreed, although just how much fun those would be definitely “depends upon the weather.”

Honoring sacrifice rated very highly with them all, said Hawkins.

“I would think Armed Forces Day is when we can commemorate those who have fallen,” he said. “You can never say enough about people who give their lives.”

Betty Rivera, whose husband, Jose, now deceased, served 26 years in the Navy, expressed similar sentiments.

“It would be nice to have some sort of prayer service to mark the day,” said Rivera.
Patriotic observances and charitable considerations are also in order. “Everyone who is in the military, or has served in the military, should be displaying their flags that day,” she said.

Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Paul Diego, and his wife, Laura, pondered what Armed Forces Day meant for them, and how they and their five children would go about celebrating it.

“Barbecues and things like that do sound good,” agreed Paul, “although realistically, people might like most just to be with their families more than anything.”

Laura, for one, admits she is very pleased when stores and businesses offer military discounts, at whatever time of the year.

“We have five children – and like a lot of other Navy moms, I’m a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “It really helps the money go farther when you are able to factor in a military discount.”

Gratitude can be measured in many ways, not all of them monetarily. Paul and Laura both mentioned how much “the little things” mean to them.

“Whenever I see people put stickers on their cars, ‘We Support Our Troops’, yellow ribbons, etc., it makes me feel appreciated,” said Laura. “People who go out of their way to show appreciation for the sacrifices made, that’s what Armed Forces Day is about for me.”

Paul put it very concisely: “Sometimes, just a simple ‘thank you’, means the world,” he said. “We can thank others, and be thankful, too, at the same time.”