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.

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the
creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine
Corps and Air Force Days.

The single day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed
Forces under the Department of Defense.