National Armed Forces Day

Age Range Key

There is a Difference: Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Armed Forces Day (Y,M,O,T)
Wondering what the difference is between Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Armed Forces Day? This brief explainer from the Library of Congress breaks down what you need to know about each of the holidays.

10 Simple Ways to Support Our Troops (Y,M,O,T)
A list of volunteer opportunities and organizations seeking donations that includes a lot of good ideas for family activities to show support for service members on Armed Forces Day. From Family Education.

US Military Service Branches (M,O,T)
Learn about the seven service branches of the US Military: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard. From the Department of Defense.

History of Armed Forces Day (M,O)
“On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense.” Read more on the history of Armed Forces Day on the Department of Defense website.

Armed Forces Day Key Stats (M,O)
There are approximately 1.3 Million active duty services members in the US Armed Forces. Find key stats such as age, average length of service, numbers around the world, and more from the US Census Bureau.

Armed Forces Day Games and Worksheets (Y,M)
A collection of Armed Forces Day word searches, word scrambles, and other puzzles and games from Soft Schools.

Armed Forces: Fun Facts and Coloring Pages (Y)
A collection of coloring pages from Learning Lift Off on the US Army, the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Included are each branch’s function, mascot, motto, and song.

What is Armed Forces Day? (Video) (Y,M)
An educational video for kids that breaks down the history of Armed Forces Day and how it’s celebrated. From Educational Videos for Students on YouTube.

Armed Forces Day Poems and Rhymes for Kids (Y,M)
A selection of patriotic poems by Roger J. Robicheau to celebrate Armed Forces Day. From Apples4theTeachers.com. Accessed via Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Armed Forces Day Crafts, Ideas and Projects (Y,M)
These craft ideas from Artists Helping Children are a fun and easy way for children to honor Armed Forces Day. Included are 3D Military Stars, Military Canteens, Dog Tags, and more.