[Kathy in Alaska]

MAKING FRIENDS — Iraqi children talk with a U.S. soldier from the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Hannen

RELGIOUS SERVICE — Father David Fitz-Patrick, U.S. Air Force Catholic chaplain, gives a sermon to a group of Army soldiers during a Catholic Mass service on May 13, 2003, at Convoy Supply Center in Scania, Iraq. Fitz-Patrick provided U.S. Army members deployed to CSC Scania with their first mass service since early March. Fitz-Patrick, a major deployed from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va., to Tallil Air Base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris

[Kathy in Alaska]

Armed Forces Day
"A Force for Freedom"
May 17, 2003

In 1949, under the direction of President Harry S. Truman, Defense Secretary Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marines Corp and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense. 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.