United States Submarine Veterans

Mid-Atlantic Base

Newark Armed Forces Day Ceremonies

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration, Third Saturday in May, was a result of the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense.

The city of Newark annually honors those who died in service to their country with a parade, memorial ceremony, outdoor concert and Civil War reenactment on the third weekend of May each year. The event kicks off with a civil war encampment at a local park on Friday evening. A Memorial Concert is held from 3-4 p.m., Saturday, on the Academy Building lawn at Main and Academy streets.

Sunday's events commence at 1100 hours with a luncheon for parade participants at the University of Delaware's Trabant Center. In this photo, Phil Puschel, John Matheus, Walt Rutter, Tom Massey, and Ron Olson attend the luncheon at the UD Trabant Center. The luncheon is provided free of charge to parade participants by the Parade Committee.

Following the luncheon, the participants assemble on the Green at the University of Delaware for the Memorial Ceremony. Commencing at 1300 hours, pageantry rules the day as Color Guards march to patriotic strains played by the military bands present. Salutes are fired and wreaths are lain in remembrance of those Delawareans who have given their lives in the service of our Country. The names of those Delawareans lost over the past year are read and a page is turned in the Book of the Dead in Memorial Hall.

At the completion of the Memorial Ceremony, the participants assemble and the parade steps off. Marching to cadence called by Cadets on loan from the Delaware Military Academy, Mid-Atlantic Base members keep a brisk pace to the delight of the assembled crowds. After Passing in Review and rendering honors to the dignitaries on the reviewing stand, the marchers reach the end of the parade route where they break up to assemble again near the reviewing stand to watch the rest of the parade.

At the completion of the parade, full Military Honors are rendered to Delaware's Fallen, including Taps and Rifle Salutes. Wreaths are lain and flags are placed at the Memorial. A final salute concludes the Ceremonies.