Armed Forces Day

1st BCT uncases colors in Afghanistan

By Sgt. 1st Class John Queen

1st Brigade Combat Team PAO NCOIC

CAMP MIKE SPANN, Afghanistan – The 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team uncased its colors May 5 during a brief ceremony held on Camp Mike Spann in northern Afghanistan.

The ceremony marks the brigade’s official assumption of duties and responsibilities in the region.

During this deployment, Soldiers of the “Warrior Brigade” will serve under a German command. They are tasked with the NATO mission of training and supporting the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and Afghan Border Police.

Soldiers from the brigade began deploying to Afghanistan in early January, with the departure of nearly 130 infantrymen from C Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. The remainder of the more than 3,000 Soldiers of the brigade followed in late March, with the final troops arriving in late April after a two-week delay because of political tensions in Kyrgyzstan and the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption in Iceland.

This deployment will be the brigade’s fifth in support of the global war on terrorism. The 1st BCT has deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Armed Forces Day was created in 1949 to honor Americans serving in the five branches of the United States military, the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. My husband is a disabled veteran so I will be doing something special for him today.
Harry S. Truman lead the effort to establish Armed Forces Day to bring citizens together to thank military members for their service. On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson made Armed Forces Day official. It replaced separate days celebrating each branch of the service based on their unification under the Department of Defense.
On Saturday, May 20, 1950, the first Armed Forces Day was celebrated. The theme was “Teamed for Defense” to show the unification of the military branches under a single government department. During many Armed Forces Day celebrations, military members showed off their latest equipment to Americans.
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.

"...Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to guard." -President John F. Kennedy, 1962

"At home and abroad, military men and women are showing purpose and dedication in defending American ideas. They are performing in our country's best traditions under circumstances both difficult and complex. Thanks to their determined spirit of patriotism and professionalism, our country has a powerful and unified defense team, employing its forces in the constant quest for peace and freedom." --The Honorable Melvin Laird, 1972 ,Former Secretary of Defense