Several nations of the world hold an annual Armed Forces Day in honor of their military forces.
Բանակի օր (English: Army Day) is celebrated on 28 January to commemorate the formation of the armed forces of the newly independent Republic of Armenia in 1992.[1]
ANZAC Day is a public holiday celebrated on April 25 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.
Silahlı Qüvvələr Günü (English: Day of the Armed Forces) is celebrated on June 26.
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.
In Brazil, Dia do Soldado (English: Soldier's Day) is celebrated on August 25, the birthday of war hero Luís Alves de Lima e Silva. . On October 23 is celebrated O Dia do Aviador (Aviator's Day). On December 13 is celebrated O Dia do Marinheiro (Sailor's Day).
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.
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. 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. The date chosen by base commanders for each base's Armed Forces Day is typically on a weekend during the summer months.
In Chile, Día de las Glorias del Ejército is a national holiday celebrated every September 19, 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.
Armed Forces Day (Chinese: 軍人節) is celebrated in the Republic of China on September 3, 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.[2]
Army Day (Chinese: 建军节) is celebrated in the People's Republic of China on August 1 in commemoration of the founding of the People's Liberation Army in 1927.
In Egypt, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on October 6, 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.
In Finland, Puolustusvoimain lippujuhlan päivä English: 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".[3][4]
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 Conservadora administration formerly headed by Rafael Carrera.
In Hungary, the Day of Patriots and Military Honvedelem Napja is celebrated on May 21.
In India, the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force celebrate their own Army Day (January 15), the Navy Day (December 4), the Indian Coast Guard Day (February 1) and the IAF Day (October 8) respectively. On Republic Day (January 26), all three services display their full colours and guard of honour.
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 01 Oct 1937 in Waziristan for Army Co-operation missions against Tribal. 'A' Flight flew 1400 operational hours.
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 December 4. Owing to its success, the day of the attack has been celebrated as Navy Day since then.
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.
Hari Tentara Nasional Indonesia (English: Indonesian National Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on October 5, the day of foundation of the Tentara Keamanan Rakyat (English: People's Security Army), the predecessor of TNI.
Rouz-e Artesh (English: Army Day) is celebrated on April 18, the day of establishment of Army.
Iraqi Armed Forces Day is celebrated on January 6.
Yom Hazikaron (English: 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.
Giorno delle Forze Armate (English: 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.
In Empire of Japan, Army Commemoration Day(Japanese:陸軍記念日, Riku-gun Kinen'bi) was celebrated on every March 10 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 May 24 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 November 1 from 1966.[5]
Lebanese Armed Forces (English: Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on August 1.
Hari Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (English: Malaysian Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on September 16
Mauritanian Armed Forces (English: Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on July 10.
Mexican Armed Forces (English: Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on February 19 since 1950, in commemoration of the decree that created them on 1917.
In Myanmar, Tatmadaw Nay (English: Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on March 27 in commemoration of the start of Burmese army's resistance to Japanese occupation in 1945.
In Nigeria, Armed Forces Day or Remembrance Day is celebrated on January 15. It was formally marked on November 11 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 January 15 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.[6]
In Pakistan,the Federal Army, Navy and Air Force celebrate Defence Day (September 6), the Navy Day/Victory Day (September 8) and the Air Force Day (September 7) respectively. Usually the ceremony takes place on the Resolution or Republic Day (March 23) 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.
In Peru, the Día de las Fuerzas Armadas del Perú (English: Peruvian Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on September 24. The day for the Peruvian Army itself is December 9, commemorating Peru's victory in the Battle of Ayacucho, which ended the Peruvian War of Independence.
In Poland, the Armed Forces Day is celebrated on August 15 and was created to memoralize Miracle at the Vistula.
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[7][8] as a gift to King Mihail I of Romania on his birthday.
In Russia, the День защитника Отечества / Dyen' zaschitnika Otechestva (English: Defender of the Fatherland Day) is celebrated on February 23. In Soviet Union there was День Советской Армии / Dyen' Sovetskoy Armi'i (English: Day of the Soviet Army), celebrated on the same date.
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.
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.
In South Korea 국군 의 날 (English: Armed Forces Day) falls on October 1, 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
In Sri Lanka each armed services celebrates its own Army Day (October 9), the Navy Day (December 9) and the Air Force Day (March 2) respectively. However all armed services celebrates Independence day (February 4) with a military parade in which they display their full colours.
Thailand honours the Royal Thai Armed Forces on January 18 . The day King Naresuan won Yuddhahatthi or Elephant Battle against Minchit Sra (grandson of Bayinnaung) in 1592 at Nong Sarai , Suphanburi.
The Ukrainian army's Army Day is celebrated on December 6.[9]
The first UK Armed Forces Day took place on 27 June 2009, it replaced Veterans' Day which was first observed in 2006. [10][11][12] 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.[13]
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.[14]
The 2011 event is to be centred on Edinburgh. Smaller events will be held throughout the United Kingdom. [15] [16]
The Isle of Man, a Crown Dependency is to hold its events a month later on 26 July 2009.[17]
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.[18]
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.[19]
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([20]).
Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May.
Venezuela celebrates Army Day on June 24, the anniversary of Simón Bolívar's victory in the Battle of Carabobo, which led to Venezuela's independence from Spain.[21]
In Vietnam, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on December 22, the date of establishment of the Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, the predecessor to the Vietnam People's Army.[22]