Today is Veterans’ Day, the day when we honor all the men and women who had served in our country’s Armed Forces.
The United States Army
The United States Army is 239 years old. It considers itself to be descended from the Continental Army and dates its inception from June 14, 1775, when the Continental army was formed even before the establishment of the United States, in order to fight for American Independence.
The United States Navy
The US Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States armed forces. The Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War and was essentially disbanded as a separate entity shortly thereafter. Depredations against American shipping by Barbary Coast pirates in the Mediterranean Sea spurred Congress to employ this power by passing the Naval Act of 1794 ordering the construction and manning of six frigates. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined.
The United States Marine Corps
The U.S. Marine Corps, a branch of the U.S. armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, is 239 years old. It was founded on November 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, by Captain Samuel Nicholas. The USMC is famous for its expertise in amphibious warfare. Though the smallest of the US armed forces in the Department of Defense, the Marine Corps is nonetheless larger than the armed forces of many significant military powers; for example, it is larger than the active duty Israel Defense Forces and the entire British Army!
The United States Air Force
The US Air Force (USAF), the lead aerial warfare and space warfare service branch of the United States armed forces, is 67 years old. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. It is the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be formed.
The United States Coast Guard
Founded by Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790, the Coast Guard is the United States’ oldest continuous seagoing service. As of August 2009, the Coast Guard had approximately 42,000 men and women on active duty, 7,500 reservists, 30,000 auxiliarists, and 7,700 full-time civilian employees. The Coast Guard motto is “Semper Paratus“, Latin for “Always Ready” or “Always Prepared”.
We thank you for all the sacrifices you made for America.
We admire you for your honor, courage, and spirit!
We love you for loving America so much you were willing to die to secure our freedom.
May God bless you and your family on this day and always!
P.S. A special “Thank You” to all the veterans among the readers of Fellowship of the Minds.
~Eowyn
