House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

Posted:	February 6, 2020 11:49 AM
From:	Representative Mark Longietti
To:	All House members
Subject:	Armed Forces Day in Pennsylvania Resolution

To honor and recognize the Armed Forces of the United States of America, I am introducing a resolution declaring the third Saturday in May, which is May 16th this year as, Armed Forces Day in Pennsylvania. On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of Armed Forces Day to replace the separate Army, Navy, and Air Force Days, matching the unification of these branches under the then-newly created Department of Defense (The DOD was formed August 10, 1949). The DOD notes that while the Marine Corps supports Armed Forces Day, Marines worldwide continue to celebrate Marines Corps Day on November 10th. President Harry Truman called for the U.S. flag to be displayed and to recognize the “skill, gallantry, and uncompromising devotion of our armed forces”. Armed Forces Day also became one of the several days in which it is appropriate to fly the National League of Families POW/MIA flag. The annual presidential proclamation of Armed Forces Day has continued for decades. In May of 2013, President Barrack Obama continued the grand tradition by proclaiming the third Saturday of May to be Armed Forces Day. I hope you will join me in support of this resolution and take some time to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of our service members and their families.
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Introduced as HR788