Airman's Roll Call: Armed Forces Day, a time for thanks Published May 14, 2008 SAN ANTONIO -- In 1950, President Truman established a day set aside specifically to honor those in uniform that differs in tone from Veterans Day and Memorial Day. While Memorial Day pays tribute to those who have lost their lives in uniform and Veterans Day is to honor those who have served in the past, Armed Forces Day is a salute to service for the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen of today. Each year, the Gallup Poll takes a telephone sampling of people in the U.S. and asks them to express their level of confidence in a list of institutions in American society. For years, the U.S. military has been at the top of that poll. In 2003, we reached a high of 82 percent of respondents saying they had "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the military. The latest poll shows us at 69 percent, 3 points above where we were prior to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In his speech announcing the formation of Armed Forces Day, President Truman praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas. He said each branch is "vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace." That is especially true today as we are part of a joint fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, as we unite to bring humanitarian relief to the people of Burma and other disaster victims, and as we use teamwork to help solve global crises Above all, take this day -- Armed Forces Day -- to thank your wingmen, as well as our brothers and sisters in the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, for their service to this great nation of ours.