“What date is also a command?”/“March fourth.”

A March 4th (“March fourth”/“march forth”) riddle is:
 
Q: What date is also a command?
A: March 4th.

 
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1993.
 
       
Google Books
Gotcha! What’s It?
Compiled by Zinita Fowler
Illustrated by Jack Fowler
Austin, TX: Panda Books
1993  
Pg. 39:
What date is a military command? (March 4th!)
     
Google Groups: alt.fan.mark-brian
Is This It For March?!?
Cindy Stephens
11/13/02
(...)
My birthday is on March 4.  I found it in a joke book once too.  Question:what date is also a command?  😊
   
Twitter
Rob Hunt
@robertrhunt
A: March 4th (re: Q: what date is also a command). yeah, cheesy, I know… blame @docrevrob 😊 but I thought it was funny.
4:08 PM · Jan 30, 2011·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Dat Matt
@maishooriu
What date is also a command?
March 4th.
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. too funnee
8:50 PM · Mar 3, 2012·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
j bean
@jillieebeean
What date is also a command? MARCH 4TH. #punny
2:24 PM · Mar 4, 2012·Mobile Web
 
Twitter
Kristin Harris
@KLHARRIS1
What date sounds like a military command? March 4th. Face with tears of joy
9:26 AM · Mar 4, 2013·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter   
Nick Croston
@Cross_town_
What date gives a command?... March 4th. Get it? #credittomygrandpa
8:59 PM · Mar 4, 2013·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Max Jimenez
@iMax96
What date is command to move forward
March 4th #jokeoftheday
10:05 AM · Feb 19, 2014·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Vickie MacFadden
@VickieMacFadden
What date is the only day of the year that is also a command? TODAY! March Fourth (March Forth—get it??!!)
7:21 PM · Mar 4, 2014·Hootsuite
 
Twitter
Outrage du jour
@opiejeanne
Replying to @HGTomato
@HGTomato On March 4th. Joke: what date is also a command? March 4th.
12:14 PM · Feb 17, 2016·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Jay Gonzales
@jggonz2001
What date is a command ?
March 4th !
11:46 AM · Mar 4, 2019·Facebook