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

South Carolina Honor Flight | Generations of Heroes

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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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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

Video

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...
Jack Bush | Generations of Heroes

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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...
Col. Gordon Johnson | Generations of Heroes

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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...
Irving Levine | Generations of Heroes

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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
Episode 7

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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
Episode 6

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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...
Karen Rutherford, Daughter of a Tuskegee Airman
Episode 5

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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...