June 14: The Birthday of the Army

The 233^rd birthday of the United States Army is on June 14^th. It will go largely unrecognized by the majority, but to those that have served it is a significant day. Army veterans can proudly reflect for a few minutes on the challenges and rewards of having served and take a few moments to remember those that sacrificed to secure and protect all that is great about America.

The campaigns have occurred much too often since those first battles of the Revolutionary War to secure our independence from tyrannical rule to the latest battles to introduce democracy to the oppressed people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Regardless of one's political views, one has to admire the courage and heroism that has been and continues to be the hallmark of the American soldier.

While many will conjure up a mental picture of soldiers engaged in war fighting, it is important to remember that there have been many more engagements that have involved humanitarian aid to people throughout the United States and the world. Soldiers are often the first responders to tragedies and provide a full array of logistical and medical support when the need arises.

There are about 16 million US Army veterans out of a total veteran population of appropriately 24 million. Interestingly there are 1.7 million female veterans of which about two-thirds served in the United States Army.

If you are an Army veteran - Happy Birthday! If you know an Army veteran, wish them a Happy Birthday. I'm sure they would be appreciative and impressed that someone would remember the occasion.