A History:
On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department — the Department of Defense.
According to a New York Times article published on May 17, 1952: “This is the day on which we have the welcome opportunity to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces … to all the individuals who are in the service of their country all over the world. Armed Forces Day won’t be a matter of parades and receptions for a good many of them. They will all be in line of duty and some of them may give their lives in that duty.”
When is it Celebrated?
Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. Armed Forces Week begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May. Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May.
Have You Heard of The All Veteran Group?
“AVG is comprised of dedicated individuals of both; active and retired military. In addition to supporting our clients and sponsors, our team provides Therapy in the Air in support of Combat Injured Troops,” – Mike Elliot. Mike is the Founder of AVG and has created a Team of incredible Veterans who have focused on representing companies and military veterans with the highest level of professionalism through parachute demonstrations, tandem parachute experiences, brand ambassador programs, sponsorships & special events.
AVG’s Therapy in the Air Program
22 veterans a day commit suicide, which means we lose a hero every 65 minutes. That statistic is something that the All Veteran Group is working to turn around through their Therapy in the Air program.
Therapy in the Air is “…[a skydiving program that] helps warriors thrive through post-traumatic growth (PTG). PTG refers to positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances. Skydiving has an unparalleled sense of freedom mingled with excitement unlike that of any other sport. Therapy in the Air inspires individuals during rehabilitation, reintegration and during the healing process. They assist with helping individuals realize that they have the power to tell new stories that will help them overcome adversity and move forward. Through telling new stories, warriors are able to rebuild a sense of self—to reconstruct an understanding of who they are, their place in the world and what their expectations of the world are.”
Through creating our Crowdrise campaign and partnering with the All Veteran Group, our goal at The Life Chest is to complement the Therapy in the Air program with the donation of one hundred Freedom Life Chests. A Life Chest would serve as a physical manifestation of everything a veteran has accomplished in their life. With a Life Chest, they can store or display their awards, accolades, and other memorabilia collected while defending their country.
Thank you to our Armed Forces for your service to our Country, The United States of America and its wonderful people, we salute you!
and in the words of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953
“Today let us, as Americans, honor the American fighting man. For it is he–the soldier, the sailor, the Airman, the Marine– who has fought to preserve freedom. It is his valor that has given renewed hope to the free world that by working together in discipline and faith our ideals of freedom will always prevail.”
Please consider donating to our CrowdRise Campaign
Fundraising Websites – Crowdrise