Armed Forces Day, 2010

This proclamation designates the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day to honor U.S. military personnel. It directs the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to plan annual observances, invites state governors and civic organizations to participate, and encourages Americans to display the flag and support troops. It supersedes the previous year's Armed Forces Day proclamation.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 28185

Impact dates

Date TBD
Annual observance planning by Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Homeland Security

Key directives

Proclaim third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day
Secretary of Defense to plan appropriate observances for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps
Secretary of Homeland Security to plan appropriate observances for Coast Guard
Secretary of Defense to solicit participation of civil authorities and private citizens
Invite Governors of States, Puerto Rico, and other jurisdictions to provide for observances
Invite veterans, civic, and other organizations to join observances
Call upon Americans to display U.S. flag at homes on Armed Forces Day
Urge citizens to attend local observances and volunteer at troop-support organizations

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Proclamation takes effect; third Saturday of May established as recurring Armed Forces Day

Near term (90d)

Annual observance planning by Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Homeland Security

Long term

Recurring annual observance on third Saturday of May; ongoing precedent for future administrations

Risks & tensions

No binding policy mandates; primarily symbolic and hortatory language
Vague 'appropriate observances' standard leaves discretion entirely to agency heads
No funding or resource commitments specified for observances