When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard….
..to listen to his son whine about being bored.


…..to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.


to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work.


…to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night’s sleep.

..to be silent when people pray to God for a new car.


…to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.


…to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying.

….to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they’re afraid to
send their kids off to summer camp.

….to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.



…..to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold.

….to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.



…..to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.



….to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year.



….to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.

The only thing harder than being a Soldier…


Is loving one.

Armed Forces Day is an American holiday that encourages citizens to celebrate the service given by those in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy. It’s a time to say thanks to those who have served our country in times of peace and war.

History

1. Harry S. Truman was passionate about developing the holiday now known as Armed Forces Day. He thought it was essential that citizens have a day for paying homage and respect to those who were so nobly serving their country.It was formally announced as Armed Forces Day on August 31, 1949. Louis Johnson, the secretary of defense with Truman, made the announcement to the country.

   Truman released a Presidential Proclamation on February 27, 1950. He said many things in praise of the day, including the statement that “Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America’s defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality.”

   It was ultimately a historical moment as well in that the Army, Navy and military all now came together under the Department of Defense title instead of individual entities.

   Decorating

2. Armed Forces Day is a day of celebration. Unlike Memorial Day–which should technically be a somber day of remembrance for those we have lost–this holiday is meant to celebrate the service of the living and the ultimate sacrifice of those who lost their lives so that others may be free.Red, white and blue are the colors for this holiday. Since this holiday always falls on a Saturday, parties and barbecues are the norm. Fireworks are a welcome display of celebratory affection. Sending a gift basket to those you love in the service is a traditional idea for the holiday, alongside a “thank you” card. If someone is back home from service, a party is sometimes held in his honor, and friends and family members often bring presents.
   

   Family Projects

3. Parades and air shows are sometimes held to celebrate this special holiday, which is sometimes overshadowed by Memorial Day–just days away.It’s a good idea to celebrate Armed Forces Day in two parts. The first should be by discussing those who are serving the country. This is a great way to teach children about patriotism. Whether you agree with the wars or even the policies of our armed forces, it’s important to look at the humanity of the soldiers risking their lives for their country. That’s a dialogue that you can have with your children, one that gets deeper as they grow older.

   The second way to celebrate Armed Forces Day is with a party or other celebration. A weekend getaway may even be in order, since the holiday is on a Saturday every year. Going to see the Battleship in Mobile, Alabama, may be the holiday for you. Perhaps one will go to Washington, D.C,. to see the memorials for soldiers, or seek out the patriotic landmarks right in your hometown.

   Classroom Celebrations

4. While Armed Forces Day will never fall on a school day–it’s the third Saturday in May–and it comes at a time when lessons for the year are winding down, there are many opportunities for a teacher to help students to understand this holiday. Some students may not be aware of the holiday, and their families may not address or celebrate it. Therefore, it’s an important topic to bring up.On the Friday before Armed Forces Day, it’s wise to bring the topic up with students. For older students, it’s a great time to have an open discussion and debate about how the holiday will be celebrated, even about how pacifists should spend or celebrate the day. For younger students, it’s a good idea to go through the wars taught during the previous semester in history classes, or speak about how a certain subject is used by the armed forces.

   A great project for Armed Forces Day is something that should be done a couple of weeks in advance in order to effectively reach its recipients. Have a letter-writing hour for your students in which they thank someone in the armed forces. If the child knows someone personally, he may write to the soldier. Otherwise, you can send letters to any soldier, and someone will be happy to receive it. See Resources for where to send letters online and through the United States Postal Service.

   Soldiers like to receive letters with pictures, news of what’s going on at home and details of everyday life. They tend to love hearing about the home front, as that love for it has often propelled them to be in service to protect it. It’s all right to write upbeat letters, even to soldiers serving in a war zone. Escapism may be the best gift the letter can provide.

   International Considerations

5. Armed Forces Day isn’t merely a United States phenomenon. Many countries celebrate this holiday in remembrance of those who serve in the armed forces. For instance, Australia celebrates Anzac Day on April 25. Israel, Italy and the Republic of China also celebrate it, as do many other nations in the world.

Article Source:  http://www.ehow.com/about_4743869_armed-forces-day.html

• Honor your armed forces member. If you have a family member in the military, use the day to put together a care package from you, the children and other members of the family with their favorite items. Send the care package to them with a little note about honoring them.

• Use the day for a fundraiser. Find a military related organization and help or create a fundraiser for them. This could be a letter drive for soldiers without families who are serving or monies for families who can’t afford to send care packages.

• Get the whole community involved. Plan a community wide event or celebration and have entertainment, fundraisers and a flag raising or flag ceremony. Make sure to check with a local military leader to ensure you are following all the flag guidelines and not dishonoring the flag and its representation in any ways.

• Get your local congressman or senator involved. Ask them to attend your celebration, fundraiser or activity, encouraging them to take notice and implore the county and state to get their communities involved on Armed Forces Day and to find ways to honor those who are serving our country.

Article Source:  http://www.ehow.com/how_2157381_honor-troops-armed-forces-day.html

For me as a Veteran, it is reassuring and gratifying to drive down the street and see our national flag flying proudly in the wind.  However, nothing hurts me more sharply than seeing the torn and faded flag flying as if it was a forgotten piece of trash.

Properly Destroy The Old:

For those of you with a tattered flag that you don’t know how to dispose of…There is an official United States Flag Code that expressly outlines the proper flag etiquette for almost any issue that might arise.  Please don’t throw her in the garbage can! You can never place the flag in the trash or other disposal. The proper disposal of the United States Of America Flag is by burning. To make it easy, drop her off at your local American Legion, VFW, Military recruiting office or Boy Scout Troop.

Now let’s put up our new flag:

There is a United States Flag Code that gives one the proper use of the flag. One part of the guide that is known to most Americans is that the flag should never touch the ground. You see how careful people are when raising the flag to never touch the earth. To fly it at night one must keep it illuminated throughout the night.

Where to get a new U.S. Flag:

I personally recommend buying your new flag from this flag company.  They have by far the best prices and the quality of their flags are tremendous.  I will stake my reputation on your satisfaction with your purchase!!  (No, I am not an affiliate of this company, just truly love their products!)