Embracing Our Military
Arsenal History Minute | Armed Forces Day
Special | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Arsenal History Minute | Rock Island Arsenal Armed Forces Day
Arsenal History Minutes from May 2023
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Embracing Our Military is a local public television program presented by WQPT PBS
WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University
Embracing Our Military
Arsenal History Minute | Armed Forces Day
Special | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Arsenal History Minutes from May 2023
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Embracing Our Military
Embracing Our Military is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
- President Truman declared, in Presidential Proclamation 2873, "Armed Forces Day, Saturday May 20th, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America's defense team of its progress under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality.
It is a first parade of preparedness by our unified forces and of our land, sea, and air defense."
The first one celebrated on Rock Island Arsenal was a banquet in the cafeteria with a speech from Major General Robert F. Burns, with mayors and local industry leaders proudly displaying their Army-Navy "E" Award pins on 20 May, 1950.
The celebration of Armed Forces Day at Rock Island Arsenal would quickly grow, with over 10,000 visitors in 1965.
It is a weekend of celebration between Rock Island Arsenal and the local community.
Rock Island Arsenal will continue this tradition again this year.
Please come and celebrate with us May 18th through the 20th.
Embracing Our Military is a local public television program presented by WQPT PBS
WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University