Armed Forces Day

Several nations of the world hold an annual Armed Forces Day to recognize, venerate, and honor their military forces. It is similar to the Veterans Day of the United States or the Remembrance Day in many other nations.

Australia and New Zealand

ANZAC Day is a public holiday on April 25 every year for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).

Brazil

In Brazil, Dia do Soldado ( _en. Soldier's Day) is celebrated on August 25, the birthday of war hero Luís Alves de Lima e Silva. Fact|date=February 2007

Bulgaria

The Day of Bravery is commemorated every year on the 6th of May, The Feast of Saint George, who is the patron saint of the Bulgarian Army.

Canada

In Canada, Canadian Forces Day is the first Sunday in June and is strictly a celebration of Canada's armed services, their heritage, and their personnel. Fact|date=February 2007 Many individual bases also celebrate an "Armed Forces Day" where part of a base is opened to the public for military demonstrations by various units, including airshows at air bases, and engineering, armoured and infantry displays at army bases. Fact|date=February 2007 The date chosen by base commanders for each base's Armed Forces Day is typically on a weekend during the summer months. Fact|date=February 2007

Chile

In Chile, Día de las Glorias del Ejército is a national holiday celebrated every September 19th, a day after the independence day, with the "Parada Militar", a parade where all the branches of the armed forces display some of their troops and equipment in a special part of "Parque O'Higgins" in Santiago. Several other smaller parades can be seen on other cities of the country, as well as air displays by the air force.

People's Republic of China

In China, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on August 1 in commemoration of the founding of the People's Liberation Army.

Croatia

In Croatia, the Dan Oružanih snaga Republike Hrvatske ( _en. Day of the Croatian Armed Forces) is celebrated on May 28 in celebration of its formation on that day in 1991.

Egypt

In Egypt, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on October 6 (or in the Islamic Calendar, the 10th of Ramadan), to commemorate the Egyptian Army's initial successful crossing of the Bar Lev Line and initial tactical victories in the October War.

Guatemala

In Guatemala, Día del Ejército is celebrated on June 30. It is remembered because in 1871 the Liberal Revolution or "Revolución Liberal", led by Miguel García Granados and Justo Rufino Barrios, marched on the streets of Guatemala City putting an end to the thirty year government of Rafael Carrera.

India

In India, the Army, Navy and Air Force celebrate their own Army Day (January 15), the Navy Day (December 4) and the IAF Day (October 8) respectively. But on Republic Day (January 26), all three services display their full colours and guard of honour (weather permitting). Fact|date=February 2007

Iran

Rouz-e Artesh ( _en. Army Day) is celebrated on April 18, currently it coincides with the birthday of the current Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei.

Israel

Yom Hazikaron ( _en. Memorial Day) is observed on the 4th day of the month of Iyar of the Hebrew calendar, always preceding the next day's celebrations of Israel Independence Day, Yom Ha-Atzma'ut, on the 5th day of Iyar, the anniversary of the Proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948. This holiday honors veterans and fallen military personnel of the Israel Defense Forces who died in the modern Arab Israeli conflict.. Fact|date=February 2007

Italy

Giorno delle Forze Armate ( _en. Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on November 4 to remember the Italian victory in the First World War. On November 4, 1918, Austrian-Hungarian forces agreed to a cease fire, thus ending the war on Italian front.

Montenegro

Dan Vojske Crne Gore In ( _en. Day of the Army) is celebrated on October 6. [ [http://www.vcg.cg.yu/frames/vist/dan_vcg.htm Untitled Document ] ]

Myanmar

In Myanmar, Tatmadaw Nay ( _en. Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on March 27 in commemoration of the start of Burmese army's resistance to Japanese occupation in 1945.

Pakistan

In Pakistan,the Federal Army, Navy and Air Force celebrate Army Day (September 6), the Navy Day (September 8) and the PAF Day (September 7) respectively. But during Military rule it is on the Independence Day (August 14). Usually the ceremony takes place on the "Resolution" or Republic Day (March 23) when Pakistan is functioned during Democratic rule all three services display their full natural colours and guard of honour where they salute the national flag, Jinnah, Fatima Jinnah and other founding fathers such as Muhammad Iqbal, Choudhary Rehmat Ali as well as the national leaders. These observances then are watched by crowds of the people of Pakistani people, both at home and abroad. The capital Islamabad and other cities such as "Lahore", "Karachi", "Gwadar", "Quetta" and "Peshawar" virtually come to a stand still during these celebrations. Fact|date=February 2007

Peru

In Peru, the Día de las Fuerzas Armadas del Perú ( _en. Peruvian Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on September 24.

Poland

In Poland, the Armed Forces Day is celebrated on August 15 and was created to memoralize Miracle at the Vistula. Fact|date=February 2007

Romania

In Romania, the Armed Forces Day is celebrated on October 25 - on this day, in 1944, the Romanian Army liberated Carei, the last Romanian city under foreign occupation.

The Romania–Hungary border had been reached a few days earlier, but the troops rested, completing the liberation of Romania [ [http://www.mapn.ro/25oct/25_OCTOBER_.doc 25 OCTOBER – THE ROMANIAN ARMED FORCES’ DAY] ] [ [http://www.mapn.ro/newsletter/2005/n_2005_027.pdf ROMANIAN MILITARY NEWSLETTER - 1. OCTOMBER 25– ROMANIAN ARMED FORCES’ DAY] ] as a gift to King Michael I of Romania on his birthday. Fact|date=February 2007

Russia

In Russia, the День защитника Отечества / Dyen' zaschitnika Otechestva ( _en. Defender of the Fatherland Day) is celebrated on February 23.

ingapore

In Singapore, the Singaporean Armed Forces Day falls on 1 July each year. There is a parade to mark the day. There is also the trooping of colours for the occasion. Fact|date=February 2007

lovenia

In Slovenia, Dan Slovenske vojske ( _en. Day of the Slovenian Army) is on 15 May each year.

outh Korea

In South Korea 국군 의 날 ( _en. Armed Forces Day) falls on October 1, the day that South-Korean forces broke through the 38th parellel in 1950 during the Korean War. It is not a national holiday or public day off, but a National Flag Raising Day (국기게양일) to recognizes and honor the military forces of the Republic of Korea

ri Lanka

In Sri Lanka each armed services celebrates its own Army Day (October 9), the Navy Day (December 9) and the IAF Day (March 2) respectively. However all armed services celebrates Independence day (February 4) with a military parade in which they display their full colours.

Taiwan (Republic of China)

The Republic of China, administering Taiwan celebrates 軍人節 ( _en. Armed Forces Day) on September 3. Pursuant to Article 5 of the "Order to Implement Commemoration Days and Holidays" (zh-t|紀念日及節日實施辦法), the Ministry of National Defense (國防部) determines how to allow a day off for the military personnel. This is not a public holiday in Taiwan, but relevant institutions, groups, and schools may hold celebrating activities. [zh icon [http://law.moj.gov.tw/Scripts/Query4A.asp?FullDoc=all&Fcode=D0020033 Order to Implement Commemoration Days and Holidays] ]

United States

In the United States, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. The day was created in 1949, and was a result of the consolidation of the military services in the Department of Defense. It was intended to replace the separate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Days, but observance of these days, especially within each particular service, continues to this day. [http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/]

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions and air shows. Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May, and Armed Forces Week begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May. Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May. The purpose of Armed Forces day is to honor Americans serving in the five services - the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

References

External links

* [http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/ DefenseLINK: Armed Forces Day (U.S.)]