<P> The 2010 event was centred on Cardiff and in 2011 it was Edinburgh's turn . Smaller events were held throughout the United Kingdom . </P> <P> UK Armed Forces Day 2012 was centred on Plymouth and took place on Saturday 30 June . Smaller events were held throughout the United Kingdom . The Isle of Man holds its event on Sunday 24 June . </P> <P> In the United States, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May . It falls near the end of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May (the fourth if the month begins on a Sunday, as in 2016). (2) </P> <P> First observed on 20 May 1950, the day was created on 31 August 1949, to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches--the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard--following the consolidation of the military services in the U.S. Department of Defense . It was intended to replace the separate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Days, but the separate days are still observed, especially within the respective services. (3) </P>

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