Honoring Each Branch of Our Military Service This Veteran's Day

 by Barbara Latta

November 11, 2026, is the day we set aside to express gratitude to our armed forces for the work and sacrifices they make to keep us safe in this dangerous and corrupted world. 

The military of the United States is a superior fighting force. It has grown into six groups with specialties to defend our land, sea, air, and outer space.

Knowing the history of each branch can help us honor each one this Veteran's Day. 

Army - The United States Army is the oldest branch of our military. It was formed in1775 by the Continental Congress to protect the colonies. Since then it has evolved into a worldwide fighting force with different branches such as Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. 

Navy - George Washington started acquiring ships during the Revolutionary War. He went so far as to purchase the first ship on his own, the Hannah, which was commissioned September 5, 1775.

When the war was over the Navy and the Army were disbanded because citizens were tired of war and fighting, and the country was broke. But because the United States needed to collect tariffs on imported goods and needed to prevent smuggling, Congress establish the Revenue-Marine, which was the forerunner of the United States Coast Guard.

Without the British Navy protecting the colonies, the ships became fast bait for the North African Barbary pirates. The Navy was reinstated to protect our seas and stop paying ransoms to Muslim pirates that were invading the Atlantic. 

Air Force - On August 1, 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corp established a small aeronautical division to take charge of all matters of the air such as balloons and air machines. The first plane was tested on August 20, 1908. On September 9, the first air casualty occurred.

The 1^st Reconnaissance Squadron was the first unit of the Army devoted solely to aviation and has remained active to this day. On March 1, 1935, the General Quarters Air Force took command of all air units and evolved into our modern-day United States Air Force.  

Marines - Two months after the establishment of the U. S. Navy, President John Adams signed a bill establishing the U.S. Marines as the landing forces of the Navy. Marines have established over 300 landings on foreign soil.

One theory of the origin for the nickname “leathernecks” was to protect the Marines while fighting with the Barbary pirates. They wore this protective gear against the assault of the Muslims who beheaded their victims.  

Coast Guard - As stated in the description of the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard was formed as the Revenue Marine to enforce the payment of tariffs on imported goods and to guard against smuggling. In 1915 Congress merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life-Saving Service as a military agency dedicated to saving life at sea. 

Space Force protects our country from invasions that can take place in the higher atmosphere of the earth. With new innovations, technology, and military progress, our outer borders are patrolled and protected. Satellites are launched and monitored to provide the ability to detect enemy penetration and provide state of the art communication to our devices on earth.

Established on December 20, 2019, this sixth branch of military service was organized through the National Defense Authorization Act. Service members are referred to as Guardians.

My husband served 20 years in the Navy, our son, Kenny, served in the Army, and Jonathan in the Air Force. My dad, his dad, and all my uncles were in branches of the armed forces.

As we honor our veterans this November, may we take the time to pause and thank them for a job well done. 

Feel free to honor a veteran you know in the comments below.