Saturday, May 20, is the 50th anniversary of Armed Forces Day. For the last 50 years, on the third Saturday in May, Americans have come together to celebrate Armed Forces Day and pay honor to those who so valiantly serve in the defense of our nation.

The theme of this year's Armed Forces Day — “Saluting America's Best” — expresses the appreciation many Americans have for the outstanding quality and considerable service of our men and women in uniform.

This past year, perhaps more than any in recent memory, their skills and commitment have been tested. They continue to patrol the dangerous skies over Iraq, provided relief and rescue in the wake of natural disasters in Venezuela and Mozambique, continue to stand watch on the Korean peninsula, and worked to establish peace and stability in Kosovo and Bosnia.

Wherever they serve, their work helps spread the blessings of freedom and democracy. And whether they serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, Armed Forces Day is their day to receive the American public's acknowledgement for service and sacrifice we all too often take for granted.

We encourage all segments of society, including the media, to use this day to reflect on the role of our military in society — their service and sacrifice to ensure our freedom, and the important security challenges we face as a nation as we approach the 21st Century. Specifically, we encourage you to pay tribute to the men and women in uniform on your editorial page this week and to focus on some of the pressing issues facing our military.

• We continue to attract the best and the brightest, but with the strong economy and a larger percentage of recruiting age population attending college, the challenges facing our recruiters have never been greater.

• The Cold War implied a less dangerous world. But there have been 99 major deployment of troops since 1990 at the same time we have drawn down the number of troops and equipment. This is putting a tremendous challenge on our troops who have responded with the greatest of professionalism.

• The military is spending the time and resources to prepare for the battles of today as well as the conflicts of the future.

You can get general information about the military and the latest issues through our web site — www.defenselink.mil — and its Armed Forces Day section.

Jim Desler

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense For Public Affairs

Back to Opinion Home Page | Back to the top of the page