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It's Armed Forces Day and Americans across the country are honoring our military heroes this weekend. Parades, speeches and other celebrations are being held in many cities to pay respect to all branches of the military.

In issuing his Armed Forces Day proclamation, President Obama praised the current generation of veterans, noting their "extraordinary sacrifice" in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also called on all Americans to fly the Stars and Stripes in honor of the nation's men and women in uniform.

Armed Forces Day was created in 1949 to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days.