By Mary O’KEEFE

On Saturday, May 16, it is Armed Forces Day. It will be recognized locally with the America 250 Concert in the Park held in the gazebo at Memorial Park, 1301 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada Flintridge. The free concert is from 4 pm. to 6:30 p.m.

It is presented by the Military Order of the World Wars, Bradley-Hanson Chapter 186. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Concert Band will be performing. 

“As Memorial Day honors deceased military veterans and those who died in action, and Veterans Day [honors] living veterans, Armed Forces Day honors current active-duty service members on the third Saturday of May,” according to the American Legion. 

President Harry Truman first instituted Armed Forces Day in 1950. When the separate departments for each military service branch were placed under the new Dept. of Defense in the late 1940s, it was decided that there should be one all-inclusive service day to recognize the uniformed branches and those who serve in them. Armed Forces Day was made a national holiday in 1961 by then-President John F. Kennedy.