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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.

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Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Major Taibe A. Roy | Generations of Heroes

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Major Taibe A. Roy | Generations of Heroes
War in Afghanistan Meet Major Taibe A. Roy. He served in the War in Afghanistan. The interview was done by Andrew Walker from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, S.C. Generations of Heroes was a...
Tom Duncan | Generations of Heroes Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes

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Tony McLean | Generations of Heroes
Vietnam War Meet Tony McLean. He served in Vietnam. Interview by Shani Alston from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC. Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South Carolina...
 Tom Duncan | Generations of Heroes

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Tom Duncan | Generations of Heroes
Korean War Meet Tom Duncan. He served in the Korean War. Interview by Edens Littlejohn from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC. Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Trip Hutto | Generations of Heroes

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Trip Hutto | Generations of Heroes
Iraq War Meet Trip Hutto, a helicopter pilot, in the Iraq War. Interview by Ricah Robinson from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, S.C. Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Steve Shugart  | Generations of Heroes

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Steve Shugart | Generations of Heroes
Iraq War Meet Steve Shugart. He served in the Iraq War. Interview by Evans Moffat from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC. Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South Carolina...
 Richard Gimmi | Generations of Heroes

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Richard Gimmi | Generations of Heroes
Vietnam War Meet Richard Gimmi. He served in the Vietnam War. Interview by Travis Styron from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC. ​Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Mike Moyer | Generations of Heroes

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Mike Moyer | Generations of Heroes
Iraq War Meet Mike Moyer. He served in the Iraq War. Interview by Steven Keller from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC. ​Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South Carolina...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Lou Fowler | Generations of Heroes

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Lou Fowler | Generations of Heroes
World War II Meet Lou Fowler and was a World War II POW. Interview by Ryan Riordan from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC. Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South Carolina...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Ramon Guitard | Generations of Heroes

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Ramon Guitard | Generations of Heroes
Iraq War *** Please Note: This video contains detailed information about a soldier's experience with an IED. The soldier's description of these events is very disturbing and will not be appropriate...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Robert Mills  | Generations of Heroes

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Robert Mills | Generations of Heroes
World War II Meet Robert Mills. He served in World War II. Interview by Perry McLeod from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC. ​ Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South...
 Danny Brazzel | Generations of Heroes

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Danny Brazzel | Generations of Heroes
Vietnam War Meet Danny Brazzel. He served in the Vietnam War. Interview by London Knight from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC. Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South...
 David Hill  | Generations of Heroes

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David Hill | Generations of Heroes
Vietnam War David Hill was a Vietnam Medic. Hill describes his training and the conditions in Vietnam. Interview by Ryan Riordan. Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South Carolina...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes South Carolina Honor Flight | Generations of Heroes

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South Carolina Honor Flight | Generations of Heroes
Inaugural Flight - November 15, 2008. Recorded by Perry McLeod, a history teacher at Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, S.C. ​ Generations of Heroes was a project that offered South Carolina...
 Buddy Sturgis

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Buddy Sturgis
Vietnam War Ewell Gilbert "Buddy" Sturgis Jr. — During the Vietnam War, Buddy Sturgis volunteered and served with the Navy's elite River Patrol Force special warfare group, where he earned his "Black...
 Buddy Sturgis

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Buddy Sturgis
Vietnam War Ewell Gilbert "Buddy" Sturgis Jr. — During the Vietnam War, Buddy Sturgis volunteered and served with the Navy's elite River Patrol Force special warfare group, where he earned his "Black...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Jack Bush | Generations of Heroes

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Jack Bush | Generations of Heroes
World War II Jack Bush was a tail gunner in World War II. A tail gunner is a crewman on a military aircraft who defends against enemy fighter attacks from the rear, or "tail", of the plane. Listen to...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Col. Gordon Johnson | Generations of Heroes

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Col. Gordon Johnson | Generations of Heroes
War in Afghanistan Meet Col. Gordon Johnson. He served in Afghanistan. Interview by Anne Baudette from Richland Northeast High School, Columbia, SC. Generations of Heroes was a project that offered...
Tony McLean  | Generations of Heroes Irving Levine | Generations of Heroes

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Irving Levine | Generations of Heroes
World War II Irving Levine was a CBI Pilot in World War II. CBI stands for the China-Burma-India Theater. This area was where many pilots flew bombing and transport missions. Interview by Kristen...
 Exhibit 2: Air Force History | Tuskegee Airmen 7

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Exhibit 2: Air Force History | Tuskegee Airmen
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During the Celebrate Freedom - Tuskegee Airmen 60th Anniversary, Ralph Parks shares the history from Freedom through Flight: African Americans in the United States Air Force.
 Exhibit 1: P-51C Mustang  | Tuskegee Airmen 6

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Exhibit 1: P-51C Mustang | Tuskegee Airmen
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During the Celebrate Freedom - Tuskegee Airmen 60th Anniversary, Jim Prater shares the history of the P-51C Mustang airplane. The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single...
Exhibit 1: P-51C Mustang  | Tuskegee Airmen
   - Episode 6 Karen Rutherford, Daughter of a Tuskegee Airman 5

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Karen Rutherford, Daughter of a Tuskegee Airman
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Karen Rutherford is the director of Career Services at Benedict College in Columbia, SC. Karen's father and two of her uncles were all Tuskegee Airmen. In this interview, she shares the story of their...
Tuskegee Airmen - Teacher Resources Colonel Herbert E. Carter | Tuskegee Airmen 3

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Colonel Herbert E. Carter | Tuskegee Airmen
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Herbert E. Carter (1919 - 2012) Colonel Herbert E. Carter was one of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. In this interview, Wood talks about his missions. Additional Information: Carter was a...