# C49 - 1957 6c Airmail Air Force
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1957 6¢ Air Force
Perforations: 11X 10 ½
Armed Forces DayÂ
US Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson first introduced Armed Forces Day on August 31, 1949. The Department of Defense (DoD) had been created two years earlier to unite all of the Armed Forces into one department. The department conceived of the holiday to replace the individual days honoring each of the branches.
Celebrated on May 20, 1950, the first Armed Forces Day had the theme of âTeamed for Defense.â This was intended to honor the new unification of the military forces in one governmental department. The celebrations were also intended to help educate civilians on the importance of the Armed Forces and their role in civilian life. The military also used the day to show new âstate-of-the-artâ equipment off to the public.
Over the years, Armed Forces Day has adopted different themes. These have included âAppreciation of a Nation,â âDedication and Devotion,â âFreedom through Unity,â âLiberty,â âPatriotism,â âPower for Peace,â âPrepared to Meet the Challenge,â âSecurity,â and âSpecial Opportunity for Thanks.â  Each year on Armed Forces Day, presidents, secretaries of defense, or other leaders speak out about the importance of the day.  Read parts of their moving speeches below:
âClose understanding between members of our Armed Forces and members of civilian communities is most important to preserve the high level of national readiness necessary for safeguarding the free world.â â General Nathan F. Twining, 1959
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Click here for lots more stamps honoring the military.
Â
1957 6¢ Air Force
Perforations: 11X 10 ½
Armed Forces DayÂ
US Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson first introduced Armed Forces Day on August 31, 1949. The Department of Defense (DoD) had been created two years earlier to unite all of the Armed Forces into one department. The department conceived of the holiday to replace the individual days honoring each of the branches.
Celebrated on May 20, 1950, the first Armed Forces Day had the theme of âTeamed for Defense.â This was intended to honor the new unification of the military forces in one governmental department. The celebrations were also intended to help educate civilians on the importance of the Armed Forces and their role in civilian life. The military also used the day to show new âstate-of-the-artâ equipment off to the public.
Over the years, Armed Forces Day has adopted different themes. These have included âAppreciation of a Nation,â âDedication and Devotion,â âFreedom through Unity,â âLiberty,â âPatriotism,â âPower for Peace,â âPrepared to Meet the Challenge,â âSecurity,â and âSpecial Opportunity for Thanks.â  Each year on Armed Forces Day, presidents, secretaries of defense, or other leaders speak out about the importance of the day.  Read parts of their moving speeches below:
âClose understanding between members of our Armed Forces and members of civilian communities is most important to preserve the high level of national readiness necessary for safeguarding the free world.â â General Nathan F. Twining, 1959
Â
Click here for lots more stamps honoring the military.