Armed Forces Day is a day to pay tribute to the men and women who serve the United States Armed Forces. It was with the idea for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country that President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish this single holiday. The one-day celebration then stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense. It was on August 31, 1949, that Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force Days. Parades, open houses, receptions and air shows were held to celebrate the first Armed Forces Day held on May 20, 1950.