Memorial Day versus Veterans Day versus Armed Forces Day – What is the Difference?

Memorial Day and Veterans Day are both patriotic holidays honoring the military, but there is a significant difference between the two aside from when they land on the calendar.

Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday in May, honors the men and women who died while serving in the military. This solemn occasion is a time to reflect on these American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and defending the country they deeply loved. Veterans Day, observed every November 11, recognizes all who have served in the Armed Forces.

You may wonder: What is the proper way to acknowledge each holiday? On Memorial Day you can honor the fallen by attending memorial services within your community or laying flowers and planting flags on graves at your local Veterans cemetery. Veterans Day is an opportunity to do the same, but it is also an appropriate time to show your appreciation to Veteran friends and family. You can also recognize Veterans Day by flying the American flag outside your home, visiting or volunteering at a Veteran facility, attending a local event, and, of course, thanking Veterans and their families for their service.

https://www.hfotusa.org/difference-memorial-day-veterans-day/

Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of May each year. It's a day to honor and thank all current members of the United States Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. 

Contributed by the WWI Memorial and Museum 

The service flag’s origins date back more than a century. During World War I, Captain Robert L. Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry created and patented the Blue Star flag design in honor of his two sons serving overseas. The flag soon became the unofficial symbol for a child in service.

In 1918, the Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defenses presented a request to President Woodrow Wilson that would allow mothers who had lost a son to sew a gold star onto the traditional black mourning bands. Black armbands signified a person in mourning, and the addition of the gold star symbolized mourning a son lost to the war. President Wilson approved this request, which transformed into the practice of sewing a gold star atop a blue star.

Turning a Blue Star flag into a symbol of memorialization was, and still is, a profound act. Some period sources found in newspapers suggest the gold star should entirely cover the blue star, while other material examples show a blue border around the gold star. Leaving a blue border would show that the family member had died in service but would always be remembered for their sacrifice. As women and families hand-stitched these flags, the exact pattern changed, sometimes reflecting regulation, and sometimes indicating personal choice.

The Silver Star Service Banner and Flag are symbols of remembrance and honor for those wounded or incurring serious illnesses during combat while honorably serving in the United States Armed Forces.

 www.silverstarfamilies.org 

 A penny means you visited.

A nickel means you and the deceased veteran trained at boot camp together.

A dime means you and the deceased veteran served together in some capacity.

A quarter is very significant because it means that you were there when that veteran died.