Armed Forces Day: Ever heard of it?

It doesn’t have the same recognition as Veterans Day or Memorial Day, but this year the Den­ton County Veterans Service Office is hoping to bring more attention to the event.

“It isn’t one of the big days on our books,” said Roger Cortez, county veterans service officer. “There isn’t a big hoopla about it, but it should be more recognized, though.”

On Saturday, Denton Mayor Perry McNeill will read a proclamation honoring military personnel to mark Armed Forces Day at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post at 909 Sunset St. The event begins at 10 a.m.

Cortez said it’s the first celebration of the event in the county in years, and he is working to raise the profile of the event locally.

“It’s on the calendar to remind you that there are people that are making sacrifices,” he said.

The event began in 1949 when President Harry S. Truman helped establish Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force days. Each military group, except the Marines, did away with separate celebrations, Cortez said.

Since then, the event has gone relatively unnoticed as it comes weeks before Memorial Day.

Even Cortez wasn’t aware of the event, he said.

“I didn’t know what it was,” he said. “Not a lot of people know it will be Armed Forces Day this weekend. It just doesn’t get the same recognition.”

DAN X. McGRAW can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is dmcgraw@dentonrc.com .