Today is a patriotic holiday that is forgotten by most and misunderstood by even more: Armed Forces Day. What is the difference between Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, and Armed Forces Day? Any confusion can be cleared by noticing the verbiage in relation to the uniform.
Memorial Day, the last Monday of May, honors those who died while wearing the uniform of any branch of the military. This is a federal holiday.
Veteran’s Day, always on November 11, honors those who wore the uniform of any branch of the military. This is also a federal holiday.
Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday of May, honors those who are wearing the uniform of any branch of the military. This is not a federal holiday. Instead, it is a national observance.
My personal feeling is that we should not intertwine any of these observances. They should each stand on their own, recognizing those for whom the observance is intended. Each group should be honored on their own merits; some who gave, some who gave all, and those who continue to give. I also believe that Armed Forces Day ought to be a federal holiday – but that’s way above my paygrade to make it happen!
“Armed Forces Day was created on August 31, 1949, by then-Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The event stemmed from the Armed Forces’ unification under one Department of Defense by then-President Harry S. Truman when he signed the National Security Act into law on July 26, 1947.”1
“On 19 May 2017, President Donald Trump reaffirmed the Armed Forces Day holiday, marking the 70th anniversary since the creation of the Department of Defense. On 15 May 2020, Armed Forces Day honored the newly established United States Space Force for the first time.”2
“As of December 2025, the US military consisted of 2.81 million people worldwide, including 2.10 million military personnel and 715,212 civilians. With the most recent numbers, the military is slightly greater than the population of Chicago, the country’s third-largest city.
“These forces are spread across six main service branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force – all tasked to protect and serve the US.
“Of those military members, the Department of Defense (DOD) listed nearly 1.33 million people as active-duty troops, and 770,118 as National Guard or reserves.”3
If you know anyone actively serving in the military, remember them on this day with a card, a note of encouragement and appreciation, and a prayer offered on their behalf. If you happen to see someone dressed in uniform in a restaurant or store, thank them for serving. You could ask them where they are stationed. You might even buy their meal!
Now, this leads me to a question that is asked by some: Can a Christian serve in the
military? Doesn’t military service violate Biblical teachings, especially concerning warfare and having to kill other combatants? Many wrestle with this sincerely, desiring to honor the Lord above all.
Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” God ordained the powers that have the right to wield the sword if necessary. There is no spiritual litmus test administered before joining one of those branches of ordained powers. Saved and lost people are a part of it.
Genesis 14 records the first military operation. It was an extraction of a POW, led by General Abraham. Genesis 14:14-16 says, “And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. (15) And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. (16) And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.” What do we know about Abraham? James 2:23 tells us, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”
What about David? He is probably the most famous commander-in-chief. David desired to build a house for the Lord but was denied the privilege? Why? 1 Chronicles 28:2-3 says, “Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: (3) But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.” This simple fact disqualified him from a job but did not alter his standing before God.
David continued his thought in 1 Chronicles 28:4. “Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel.” This naturally put him in the job of leading Israel’s military. And, we further see David’s position with the Lord in Acts 13:22. “And when he had removed him [Saul], he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”
Never once does God denounce someone who has served legitimately in military service. He didn’t even denounce the profession of the Roman centurion who came to Him to heal his servant. Instead, “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” (Matthew 8:10)
I do not believe that God is opposed to a Christian serving in the military and I cannot find Scriptural backing to suggest that He is. This is a noble calling and one that the Lord uses to illustrate what it means to serve in the Lord’s army.
Again, our thanks to all who are currently wearing the uniform of our United States military. May your example spur the believer to imitate your service as we serve the Lord.
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4)
1https://www.uso.org/stories/2225-when-is-armed-forces-day
2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Day#United_States
3https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-people-are-in-the-us-military-a-demographic-overview/
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