Cal State San Bernardino will celebrate its 6th annual Armed Forces Day on Wednesday, May 17, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on the south lawn of the John M. Pfau Library.
Sponsored by CSUSB’s Veterans Success Center, the event aims to acknowledge and recognize all military members for their patriotic service to the United States. The public is invited to celebrate America’s military heroes at the free event. Parking at CSUSB is $6 per vehicle.
The program will feature a brief ceremony, with CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales giving the welcoming remarks, followed by Ryan Keating, an assistant professor of history at CSUSB, who will speak about the history of the armed forces and their contributions to American history and culture, and Brig. Gen. Steven Garland, commander of the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., who will speak about the future of the armed forces.
Following the speakers, the Tie a Yellow Ribbon Campaign will be held. Participants will decorate trees in front of the Pfau Library lawn with prizes awarded to the best decorated trees. An American-style barbeque will be served along with giveaways to attendees.
President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday to acknowledge the contributions of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. In 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of “Armed Forces Day” to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days.
For more information about Armed Forces Day, or to request disability accommodations, contact the Veterans Success Center at 909-537-5195 or email Deborah Buck at dbuck@csusb.edu.
For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.
Top photo: File photo by Corinne McCurdy/CSUSB