by Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
Every third Saturday in May, Americans pause to honor those who wear, or have worn, the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced that a single, unified Armed Forces Day would replace the separate celebrations for each branch of the military, reflecting the armed forces’ new unified structure under the National Security Act. The first official Armed Forces Day took place on May 20, 1950, under the theme “Teamed for Defense,” marked by flyovers, parades, and public celebrations nationwide.
Winter Garden had already been answering that call long before the holiday existed. During the 1940s, Winter Garden claimed the title of the largest citrus shipping point in the world, with the industry booming throughout World War II. Much of the local orange crop went directly to the government for distribution to the armed forces, with millions of cans of juice shipped to service members around the globe. West Orange County further supported the effort through military personnel, civilian plane spotters, and metal recycling drives for the armed forces.
The colorful crate labels that once rolled off our packing houses were more than advertising, they were symbols of a community that fed and fought for this nation. From the grove to the front line, Winter Garden answered the call. We salute them all.
