WEBVTT

00:09.270 --> 00:11.619
It is fitting and proper that we devote

00:11.630 --> 00:13.949
one day each year to paying special

00:13.960 --> 00:16.090
tribute to those whose constancy and

00:16.100 --> 00:19.020
courage constitute one of the bulwarks

00:19.030 --> 00:21.629
guarding the freedom of this nation and

00:21.639 --> 00:24.790
the peace of the free world that came

00:24.799 --> 00:27.129
from President Eisenhower . Speaking of

00:27.139 --> 00:31.110
armed forces Day , armed Forces Day was

00:31.120 --> 00:34.509
established in 1949 as a result of the

00:34.520 --> 00:36.700
Unification of America's Armed Forces

00:36.709 --> 00:39.569
under the National Security Act of 1947 .

00:39.580 --> 00:41.939
At the time , all the different armed

00:41.950 --> 00:43.783
services components were brought

00:43.783 --> 00:46.939
together under one umbrella and renamed

00:46.950 --> 00:49.340
the Department of Defense . The

00:49.349 --> 00:51.238
unification allowed for a greater

00:51.238 --> 00:54.020
efficiency in providing military forces

00:54.029 --> 00:56.340
needed to deter war and protect the

00:56.349 --> 00:59.119
security of our country . Former

00:59.130 --> 01:01.360
Secretary of Defense Lewis Johnson put

01:01.369 --> 01:04.279
it this way . Armed Forces day ,

01:04.290 --> 01:07.629
Saturday , May 20th , 1950 marks the

01:07.639 --> 01:09.419
first combined demonstration by

01:09.430 --> 01:11.900
America's defense team of its progress

01:11.910 --> 01:14.160
under the National Security Act towards

01:14.169 --> 01:15.836
the goal of readiness for any

01:15.836 --> 01:18.339
eventuality . It is the first parade of

01:18.349 --> 01:20.460
preparedness by the Unified Forces of

01:20.460 --> 01:23.099
our land , sea and air defense .

01:25.180 --> 01:27.402
When it comes down to the bottom line ,

01:27.402 --> 01:29.513
it's the people of the armed services

01:29.513 --> 01:31.730
that make it all possible people like

01:31.739 --> 01:34.010
the airmen that make up this wig people

01:34.019 --> 01:36.879
like you . It is you that make it

01:36.889 --> 01:38.778
possible for us to accomplish our

01:38.778 --> 01:41.230
diverse set of missions , protect our

01:41.239 --> 01:43.599
national interests and take the fight

01:43.610 --> 01:47.610
to the enemy . Each of your individual

01:47.620 --> 01:49.650
efforts combined to make this wing

01:49.660 --> 01:51.940
ready for anything and deadly effective

01:51.949 --> 01:55.690
against our adversaries . So this

01:55.699 --> 01:58.410
coming Saturday , May 18th , we will

01:58.419 --> 02:01.000
observe Armed Forces Day and celebrate

02:01.010 --> 02:03.160
our shared and continuing devotion to

02:03.169 --> 02:05.290
the security of this country , our

02:05.300 --> 02:07.879
allies and the principles of democracy .

02:09.048 --> 02:10.937
I encourage you to take some time

02:10.937 --> 02:13.048
during armed forces day to reflect on

02:13.048 --> 02:15.718
the challenges that we as a nation face

02:15.729 --> 02:18.940
today . Realize that you are of a

02:18.949 --> 02:21.479
select few that have stepped up and

02:21.490 --> 02:23.546
volunteered to defend this country .

02:23.940 --> 02:26.162
You are the true patriots of the time .

02:26.869 --> 02:29.580
Thank you for your service most

02:29.589 --> 02:31.811
especially , thank you for being a part

02:31.811 --> 02:34.320
of the 102nd . I am honored to be

02:34.330 --> 02:35.460
standing by your side .