Armed Forces Day

Several nations of the world hold an annual Armed Forces Day in honor of their military forces.

Armenia

Բանակի օր (Army Day) is celebrated on 28 January to commemorate the formation of the armed forces of the newly independent Republic of Armenia in 1992.

Australia and New Zealand

ANZAC Day is a public holiday celebrated on 25 April for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). The date commemorates the landings in 1915 at Anzac Cove by Australian and New Zealand forces, the beginning of the costly Gallipoli campaign.

Azerbaijan

Silahlı Qüvvələr Günü (Day of the Armed Forces) is celebrated on 26 June.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh observe Armed Forces Day on 21 November to mark the occasion of Tri- Services joint operation against occupation Pakistani forces in Liberation War 1971. The day starts with laying of floral wreath at 'Sikha Anirban' (Eternal Flame) at Dhaka Cantonment by President, Prime Minister and Service Chiefs. In the afternoon a reception at Senakunja, Dhaka Cantonment is held where Prime Minister, ministers, leader of opposition and other high civil and military officials attend. In other cantonments, naval and air bases similar receptions are held. A special TV programme Anirban is broadcast on different TV channels the previous evening and special newspaper supplements are also published with national dailies. Receptions are also held by Prime Minister and Service Chiefs for recipients of the gallantry award Freedom fighter. Improved meals for family members are served in all military stations. Armed Forces Division also brings out a special publication with articles related to the War of Independence and armed forces.

Brazil

In Brazil, Dia do Soldado (Soldier's Day) is celebrated on 25 August, the birthday of war hero Luís Alves de Lima e Silva.^{[citation needed]}. On 23 October is celebrated O Dia do Aviador (Aviator's Day). On 13 December is celebrated O Dia do Marinheiro (Sailor's Day).

Bulgaria

The Day of Bravery is commemorated every year on 6 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 a celebration of Canada's armed services, their heritage, and their personnel. Canadian Forces Day is not a public holiday in Canada.

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.^{[citation needed]} The date chosen by base commanders for each base's Armed Forces Day is typically on a weekend during the summer months.^{[citation needed]}

Chile

See also: Fiestas Patrias (Chile)

In Chile, Día de las Glorias del Ejército is a national holiday celebrated every 19 September, 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.

Greater China

Republic of China (Taiwan)

Armed Forces Day (Chinese: 軍人節) is celebrated in the Republic of China on 3 September, on the same day as Victory over Japan Day. Pursuant to Article 5 of the Order to Implement Commemoration Days and Holidays (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.

People's Republic of China (Mainland China)

Army Day (Chinese: 建军节) is celebrated in the People's Republic of China on 1 August in commemoration of the founding of the People's Liberation Army in 1927.

Egypt

In Egypt, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 6 October, the date on which the October War of 1973 began with the Egyptian Army's successful crossing of the Suez Canal that culminated in the capture of the Bar Lev Line.

Finland

In Finland, Puolustusvoimain lippujuhlan päivä Day of The Finnish Defence's Force, literally The Day of the Finnish Defence Force's flag fest) is celebrated on 4 June, which is the birthday of Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim. During 1919–1939 it was called as "Sotaväen lippujuhlan päivä" (The Day of the Finnish Army's flag fest) and was celebrated on 16th as the Victory Day of Whites. After the Winter War there were no need to maintain the dichotomy of Finnish society and the celebrations of 16 May were ended. During Mannerheim's 75th birthday the Finnish Government declared that from then on 4 June would officially celebrated as "Suomen marsalkan syntymäpäivä" (The Birthday of Marshal of Finland). Even though the official name of the day changed soon after it is still known, also in official context, as "The Birthday of Marshal of Finland".

France

During France's national day, France honors its armed forces during the military parade of the 14th July, which is the oldest and largest military parade in Europe.

Georgia

Georgia marks its Armed Forces Day (Georgian: შეიარაღებული ძალების დღე) on April 30 to commemorate the foundation of the Georgian Armed Forces in 1991.

Guatemala

In Guatemala, Día del Ejército is celebrated on 30 June. 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 Conservadora administration formerly headed by Rafael Carrera.

Hungary

In Hungary, the Day of Patriots and Military Honvédelem Napja is celebrated on 21 May.

India

In India, the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force celebrate their own Army Day (15 January), the Navy Day (4 December), the Indian Coast Guard Day (1 February) and the IAF Day (8 October) respectively. On Republic Day (26 January), all three services display their full colours and guard of honour.^{[citation needed]}

Indian Air Force Day

The Indian Air Force Act came into force on 8 October 1932, that date being the date of its formal constitution. The IAF was a small group of six officer, nineteen airmen and four Wapiti aircraft. Now it is the fourth largest air force in the World after US, Russia and China. On 1 April 1933 first flight of the IAF the 'A' flight took off. IAF personnel consisted of five pilots and one equipment officer and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers) and its aircraft was four Westland Wapiti IIA arm, which was in karachi(Pakistan). The first air force war was on 1 Oct 1937 in Waziristan for Army Co-operation missions against Tribal. 'A' Flight flew 1400 operational hours.

Indian Navy Day

In India, 4 December is celebrated as Navy Day. On this day Indian Navy played a significant role in the bombing of Karachi harbor in the 1971 war, i.e. Operation Trident, which was launched on 4 December. Owing to its success, the day of the attack has been celebrated as Navy Day since then.

Indian Republic Day

India became a Republic when the Constitution of the Country came into force on 26 January 1950, thereby defining it as a Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary form of Government, through the Preamble. The Indian Constitution, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly after considerable discussions represented the framework of the Government of the Country. Henceforth, 26 January has been recognized and celebrated as India's Republic Day with great ardor, and is decreed a national holiday.

Indonesia

Hari Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on 5 October, the day of foundation of the Tentara Keamanan Rakyat (People's Security Army), the predecessor of TNI.

Iran

Rouz-e Artesh (Army Day) is celebrated on 18 April, the day of establishment of Army.

Iraq

Iraqi Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 6 January.

Israel

Yom Hazikaron (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 fallen military personnel of the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Security Forces who died in defense of Israel and victims of Terrorism.^{[citation needed]}

Italy

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

Japan

In Empire of Japan, Army Commemoration Day (Japanese:陸軍記念日, Riku-gun Kinen'bi) was celebrated on every 10 March in celebration of victory in Battle of Mukden. And Navy Commemoration Day (Japanese:海軍記念日, Kai-gun Kinen'bi) was celebrated on every 24 May in celebration of victory in Battle of Tsushima. There were celebrated from 1906 until 1945.

In Japan after World War II, Self-Defence Force Commemoration Day (Japanese:自衛隊記念日, Jiei-tai Kinen'bi) is celebrated on every 1 November from 1966.

Lebanon

Lebanese Armed Forces (Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on 1 August.

Mali

Mali Army Day is celebrated on 20 January.

Malaysia

Hari Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (Malaysian Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on 16 September

Mauritania

Mauritanian Armed Forces (Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on 10 July.

Mexico

Mexican Armed Forces (Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on 19 February since 1950, in commemoration of the decree that created them on 1917.

Myanmar

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

Nigeria

In Nigeria, Armed Forces Day or Remembrance Day is celebrated on 15 January. It was formally marked on 11 November of every year to coincide with the Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) for the World War veterans in all Commonwealth of Nations. But it was changed to 15 January of every year in Nigeria in commemoration the January 1966 when the first shot was fired to start the process that metamorphosed into the Nigerian Civil War.

Pakistan

In Pakistan,the Federal Army, Navy and Air Force celebrate Defence Day (6 September), the Navy Day/Victory Day (8 September) and the Air Force Day (7 September) respectively. Usually the ceremony takes place on the Resolution or Republic Day (23 March) when 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 patriotic peoples, 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.

Peru

In Peru, the Día de las Fuerzas Armadas del Perú (Peruvian Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on 24 September. The day for the Peruvian Army itself is 9 December, commemorating Peru's victory in the Battle of Ayacucho, which ended the Peruvian War of Independence.

Poland

In Poland, the Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 15 August and was created to memoralize Miracle at the Vistula.^{[citation needed]}

Romania

In Romania, the Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 25 October – 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 as a gift to King Mihai I of Romania on his birthday.^{[citation needed]}

Russian Federation

In Russia, the День защитника Отечества / Dyen' zaschitnika Otechestva (Defender of the Fatherland Day) is celebrated on 23 February. In Soviet Union there was День Советской Армии / Dyen' Sovetskoy Armi'i (Day of the Soviet Army), celebrated on the same date.

Serbia

Sretenje (The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple) in Christianity, 15 February – The Independence Day of Serbia is a date which was in 2001 taken as a Day of the Serbian Armed Forces. This day was taken as a starting day for the establishment of the modern Serbian state and as a national holiday as a remembrance day on Candlemas Day in 1804 when the First Serbian Uprising began in Orasac, and on the same day in 1835 Duke Milos Obrenovic proclaimed the First Serbian Constitution, which was regarded as one of the most liberal and modern constitutions of European in those times.

Singapore

In Singapore, Singapore 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.^{[citation needed]}

South Korea

In South Korea 국군 의 날 (Armed Forces Day) falls on 1 October, the day that South-Korean forces broke through the 38th parallel 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

Sri Lanka

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

Thailand

Thailand honours the Royal Thai Armed Forces on 18 January . The day King Naresuan won Yuddhahatthi or Elephant Battle against Minchit Sra (grandson of Bayinnaung) in 1592 at Nong Sarai, Suphanburi.

Ukraine

The Ukrainian army's Army Day is celebrated on 6 December.

United Kingdom

The first UK Armed Forces Day took place on 27 June 2009, it replaced Veterans' Day which was first observed in 2006. The date was chosen as it marked the day after the anniversary of the first investiture ceremony for the Victoria Cross, held on 26 June 1857.

The 2009 celebrations were centred on Chatham Historic Dockyard – a former Royal Navy base. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, attended as the official party, along with the head of the Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and Defence Minister Kevan Jones.

It was announced during the event at Chatham that the 2010 event will be centred on Cardiff. Smaller events were held throughout the United Kingdom.

The 2011 event is to be centred on Edinburgh. Smaller events will be held throughout the United Kingdom.

The Isle of Man, a Crown Dependency is to hold its events a month later on 26 July 2009.

United States

In the United States, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. It falls near the end of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May.

The day was created in 1949 to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches – the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard – following 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 the separate days are still observed, especially within the respective services.

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions and air shows. In 1962, President Kennedy established Armed Forces Day as an official holiday. The United States' longest running city-sponsored Armed Forces Day Parade is held in Bremerton, Washington. In 2009, Bremerton celebrated the 61st Armed Forces Day Parade().

Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May.

Venezuela

Venezuela celebrates Army Day on 24 June, the anniversary of Simón Bolívar's victory in the Battle of Carabobo, which led to Venezuela's independence from Spain.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on 22 December, the date of establishment of the Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, the predecessor to the Vietnam People's Army.

See also

• Anzac Day
• Armistice Day
• Red poppy
• Remembrance Day
• Remembrance Sunday
• Veterans Day
• Volkstrauertag

External links

• DefenseLINK: Armed Forces Day (U.S.)