Armed Forces Day is an annual celebration held on the third Saturday in May, established by President Harry S. Truman in 1949 to honor all members of the United States Armed Forces. This includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force. As of 2022, over 1.4 million active personnel and around 766,731 reserve personnel serve the nation, often in dangerous conditions and at great personal and familial sacrifice, including frequent relocations and extended separations from loved ones.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives resolves to honor and celebrate Armed Forces Day on May 18th, 2024, expressing gratitude to all U.S. military members for their service and sacrifices. The resolution also instructs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the Rhode Island Adjutant General, Major General Christopher Callahan, as a formal gesture of the state's appreciation and recognition of the military's contributions to the nation.