National Military Appreciation Month
Governor David Ige presents the Proclamation for Hawaii Military Appreciation Month, to U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Kevin Schneider.
Official nameMilitary Appreciation Month
Observed byUnited States
TypeNational, Historic
SignificanceDedicates a month for the recognition and appreciation of active members of the United States Armed Forces
ObservancesMilitary Spouse Day, Memorial Day, Loyalty Day and Armed Forces Day[1]
BeginsMay 1[2]
EndsMay 31
FrequencyAnnual
Related toVeterans Day and National Military Family Appreciation Month

National Military Appreciation Month, also known as Military Appreciation Month, is a month-long observance in the United States, dedicated to people who are currently serving in the United States military.[3][4] Each year, the observance runs from May 1 to May 31.[5]

History

Senator John McCain proposed the month long observance on February 9, 1999.[6] On April 30, 1999, Congress designated National Military Appreciation Month as a month-long observance.[7][8] Congress chose May because many military related observances such as Memorial Day and Loyalty Day are celebrated and observed on that date. Congress recognized the month after a unanimous vote of 93–0 in April of that year.[9]

Proclamations

Since May 1999, almost all of the states have made proclamations about the month, with the first ones being Arizona, Montana, North Carolina, Washington and Michigan.[10][11][12][13][14]

Digital commemorations

In the 2020s, videogames created virtual events to celebrate and raise funds for Military Appreciation Month.[15][16]

Discounts and commemorations

The USS Missouri illuminated in the U.S flag colors for the 23rd Hawaii Military Appreciation Month opening ceremony

On May 2, 2016 Chevrolet donated $5 million+ worth of cars to the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.[17] Multiple companies give discounts to people who currently serve or resigned in the military which include all 6 branches. Some notable companies that give these discounts are Home Depot, Hulu, Lowe's, T-Mobile and Verizon.[18][19] Some brands only give discounts to veterans on certain days on Military Appreciation Month such as Adidas, Chevrolet, Nike, Chick-fil-A, Ford, Under Armour and IHOP.[20][21] Many families in the United States thanked the military veterans during the month long observance to show respect.[22] The humanitarian organization known as Red Cross provided more than 15,000 military veteran families during the 2021 Military Appreciation Month to the 2022 Military Appreciation Month.[23] There are also about 50 large companies that give discounts during the month.[24]

Nascar recognized the month during May 2022 through the annual NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola program.[25] The USS Lexington (CV-16) also known as The Blue Ghost made an exhibit about some of the veterans that fought on it during WW2 which the exhibit stayed for the entirety of May 2021 Military Appreciation Month.[26] Education discounts for military is also noticeable during the month long observance.[27] The USS Missouri was luminated in red, white and blue for the 23rd annual Hawaii Military Appreciation Month opening ceremony.[28] At the California African American Museum, they made an exhibit featuring black soldiers accomplishments in World War 2.[29]

Military Appreciation Day

Military Appreciation Day is observed on August 31 and has the same idea as the month. Although not as popular as the month, it still is relevant in state fairs.[30] The observation was created in 1949.[31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Observances during Military Appreciation Month". veteran. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  2. ↑ MATT SZABO (19 May 2021). "Seniors see significance in new flagpole in Huntington Beach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 June 2022. With May being Military Appreciation Month [...] it seemed like a good time to do it
  3. ↑ Jones, Charolotte (2021-05-24). "Military Appreciation month is a time to honor America's bravest heroes". The Hill. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  4. ↑ Boyd, Rachel. "Military Appreciation Month". spectrumlocal. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  5. ↑ "What is military apprecitaiton month?". uso. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  6. ↑ "May is National Military Appreciation Month". The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  7. ↑ "NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH 2005". 2008-09-14. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  8. ↑ "National Military Appreciation Month: A Month-Long Show of Support | Military Spouse". 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  9. ↑ Prescott, Miranda. "A look into the history of Memorial Day and Military Appreciation Month". Gadsden Times. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  10. ↑ "Arizona Recognizes Military Appreciation Month". Office of the Arizona Governor. 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  11. ↑ "Gov. Gianforte Proclaims May as Military Appreciation Month". news.mt.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  12. ↑ "GOVERNOR COOPER DECLARES MAY MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH IN NORTH CAROLINA". States News Service. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2022. Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed May as Military Appreciation Month to honor the contributions and sacrifices North Carolina's servicemembers, veterans and their families have made for North Carolina and the nation
  13. ↑ "Military Spouse Appreciation Month | WDVA". www.dva.wa.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  14. ↑ "May 2022 Military Appreciation Month". www.michigan.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
  15. ↑ Hawken Miller (25 May 2022). "Call of Duty Endowment to host in-game charity run via 'Warzone'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 June 2022. donate $1 to the Call of Duty Endowment for the equivalent of every 10 virtual kilometers a player runs in the game's massive Caldera map between May 26 and June 3, capped at $1 million, to celebrate Military Appreciation Month
  16. ↑ Miller, Hawken (22 May 2020). "As veterans face heightened unemployment risk, 'Call of Duty' lends a hand". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 June 2022. made a $2 million donation to the endowment for National Military Appreciation Month in May. Now, Goldenberg's organization is teaming with [...] developer Infinity Ward to raise additional money to help in this challenge [...] will have the ability to help the cause by purchasing
  17. ↑ "Military Appreciation Month: 10 Things You Didn't Know". 3blmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  18. ↑ "18 Exclusive National Military Appreciation Month Discounts in 2022". VeteranLife. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  19. ↑ "Service in the spotlight". www.verizon.com. 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  20. ↑ "Military Appreciation Month Discounts 2022". Military Benefits. 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  21. ↑ Weinberg, Sarah (2019-05-21). "IHOP Is Selling $1 Short Stack Pancakes Today For National Military Appreciation Month". Delish. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  22. ↑ Stabile, Angelica (2022-05-16). "Wisconsin father-son duo thank America's military heroes from the 'bottom of our heart'". Fox News. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  23. ↑ "Support Military Families in Honor of Military Appreciation Month". www.redcross.org. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  24. ↑ Lee, Melissa. "National Military Appreciation Month: 40 of the best military discounts of 2021". USA Today. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  25. ↑ "NASCAR community unites to pay tribute to US Armed Forces through NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  26. ↑ "Military Appreciation Month: Honoring the veterans aboard the Blue Ghost". kiiitv.com. May 17, 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  27. ↑ Schultz, Jaclyn (12 May 2022). "Las Vegas veterans group helps shine spotlight on cannabis to aid PTSD". fox5vegas. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  28. ↑ "MILITARY 'MAHALO'". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  29. ↑ "May is Military Appreciation Month: Buffalo Soldiers at the California African American Museum". KTLA. 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  30. ↑ ""An opportunity for us to give back": State Fair vendors mark Military Appreciation Day". CBS News. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  31. ↑ "National Military Appreciation Month ~ May | United Relief Foundation". 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
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