Military Observances

Find out the different military observances and the differences between each day.

Armed Forces Day. Observed the third Saturday in May, this day is for all who currently serve and all who have served, both active and former, in the reserves, National Guard or on active duty, including the Coast Guard.  It replaced separate days that honored various branches of the military (Army, Air Force and Navy).

Veterans Day. Celebrated annually on November 11, this day of observance is for all living and deceased who have served in the military.

Memorial Day. Celebrated annually on the last Monday in May, this day of observance is for all who died while serving

National Guard Birthday Celebrated December 13, honors all citizen-soldiers who have civilian jobs but are available to provide support and protection for the states’ civilians. They may be called for military operations at a national level.

Within this Collection

The Rising Sun, Part 1
Episode 1

Video

This segment includes the Marine Corps Hymn, reflections on the attraction that the Marine Corps has for young people who want to serve, and memories of some individuals who made the decision to sign...
The Rising Sun, Part 3
Episode 3

Video

Veterans remember arriving after the attack on Pearl Harbor and seeing how devastating the losses to the United States Navy were. They didn't realize that well over 2,000 people had been killed...
A World War, Part 5
Episode 5

Video

Veterans and family members recall the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor in detail.
A World War, Part 7
Episode 7

Video

This segment focuses on how the Japanese took control of the Pacific waters. The Philippines had been promised their independence. Within hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese turned...
A World War, Part 8
Episode 8

Video

The damage done to the American ships at Pearl Harbor is discussed. The devastation was hard to accept. The one thing the Japanese had missed was the tank farm where all of the fuel was stored. It was...
A World War, Part 4
Episode 4

Video

Veterans share their recollections of the day that Pearl Harbor was attacked. They were at war again.
A World War, Part 3
Episode 3

Video

Japan needed resources and could only get them from other countries. The United States continued to try to prevent this. Japan sent an envoy to try to negotiate some sort of compromise, but the...
A World War, Part 2
Episode 2

Video

"The American soldiers arrived, and the tanks came in and ran over those big, high fences like they were matchboxes." Veterans provide their remembrances of the end of the war in Europe and the...
A World War, Part 1
Episode 1

Video

German soldiers were surrendering so fast, they just would surrender a whole unit and we couldn't handle them all. The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) was announcing "Today in Europe, the war is...