Taking some time to thank for service

Memorial Day is Monday, and here is some information from Flagandbanner.com about related observances, Armed Forces Day and Peace Officers Memorial Day:

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.

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 observance of these days, especially within each particular service, continues to this day.

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions and air shows. The United States' longest running city-sponsored Armed Forces Day Parade is held in Bremerton. In 2009, Bremerton celebrated the 61st Armed Forces Day Parade.

Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May.

Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and peace officers. The memorial takes place on May 15, and Police Week is the calendar week in which the memorial falls.

The holiday was created on October 1, 1961, when Congress asked the president to designate 15 May to honor peace officers. John F. Kennedy signed the bill into law on October 1, 1962.

Armed forces and law enforcement officers, and other emergency responders, for that matter, make a lot of sacrifices for the common good. We can't thank them enough.