National Military Appreciation Month Explained
Holiday Name: | National Military Appreciation Month |
Type: | national |
Official Name: | Military Appreciation Month |
Observedby: | United States |
Longtype: | National, Historic |
Significance: | Dedicates a month for the recognition and appreciation of active and retired members of the United States Armed Forces |
Begins: | May 1[1] |
Ends: | May 31 |
Month: | May |
Frequency: | Annual |
Duration: | 1 month |
Observances: | Military Spouse Day, Memorial Day, Loyalty Day and Armed Forces Day[2] |
Relatedto: | Veterans 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, and veterans of, 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
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
External links
Notes and References
- News: MATT SZABO . Seniors see significance in new flagpole in Huntington Beach . 15 June 2022 . . 19 May 2021 . en . With May being Military Appreciation Month [...] it seemed like a good time to do it . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817162224/https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2021-05-19/seniors-see-significance-in-new-flagpole-in-huntington-beach . live .
- Web site: Observances during Military Appreciation Month. veteran. May 20, 2022. May 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220521003618/https://veteran.com/national-military-appreciation-month/. live.
- Web site: Jones . Charolotte . 2021-05-24 . Military Appreciation month is a time to honor America's bravest heroes . 2022-06-29 . The Hill . en-US.
- Web site: Military Appreciation Month. Boyd. Rachel. spectrumlocal. May 31, 2022. May 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220531193915/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/05/31/military-appreciation-month. live.
- Web site: What is military apprecitaiton month?. uso. April 29, 2022. August 17, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240817162751/https://www.uso.org/stories/2699-what-is-military-appreciation-month/. live.
- Web site: 2022-04-29 . May is National Military Appreciation Month . 2022-06-17 . The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University . en-US . 2024-08-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817162738/https://www.mfri.purdue.edu/may-is-national-military-appreciation-month/ . live .
- Web site: 2008-09-14 . NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH 2005 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080914134615/http://www.nmam.org/cr328.htm . 2008-09-14 . 2022-09-17 .
- Web site: 2017-05-04 . National Military Appreciation Month: A Month-Long Show of Support Military Spouse . 2022-06-15 . en-US . 2020-10-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201031230853/https://www.militaryspouse.com/sponsored/national-military-appreciation-month/ . live .
- Web site: Prescott . Miranda . A look into the history of Memorial Day and Military Appreciation Month . 2023-01-03 . Gadsden Times . en-US . 2024-08-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817162856/https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/05/27/look-into-history-military-appreciation-may/9906650002/ . live .
- Web site: 2021-05-19 . Arizona Recognizes Military Appreciation Month . 2022-06-17 . Office of the Arizona Governor . en.
- Web site: Gov. Gianforte Proclaims May as Military Appreciation Month . 2022-06-17 . news.mt.gov.
- News: GOVERNOR COOPER DECLARES MAY MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH IN NORTH CAROLINA . 14 June 2022 . States News Service . 17 May 2021 . 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 . 14 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220614135642/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&id=GALE%7CA662037860&v=2.1&it=r&userGroupName=anon~c1c9a4 . live .
- Web site: Military Spouse Appreciation Month WDVA . 2022-06-17 . www.dva.wa.gov . 2022-05-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523075130/https://www.dva.wa.gov/news/2022/military-spouse-appreciation-month . live .
- Web site: May 2022 Military Appreciation Month . 2022-06-22 . www.michigan.gov . en . 2022-06-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220622223656/https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/proclamations/2022/05/01/may-2022-military-appreciation-month . live .
- News: Hawken Miller . Call of Duty Endowment to host in-game charity run via 'Warzone' . 14 June 2022 . . 25 May 2022 . en . 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.
- News: Miller . Hawken . As veterans face heightened unemployment risk, 'Call of Duty' lends a hand . 14 June 2022 . . 22 May 2020 . en . 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 . 23 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200523160113/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2020/05/22/veterans-face-heightened-unemployment-risk-call-duty-lends-hand/ . live .
- Web site: Military Appreciation Month: 10 Things You Didn't Know . 2022-06-15 . 3blmedia.com . en . 2022-03-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220328110405/https://www.3blmedia.com/news/military-appreciation-month-10-things-you-didnt-know . live .
- Web site: 2022-04-25 . 18 Exclusive National Military Appreciation Month Discounts in 2022 . 2022-06-15 . VeteranLife . en-US . 2024-08-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817162804/https://veteranlife.com/military-discounts/national-military-appreciation-month-discounts/ . live .
- Web site: 2022-05-02 . Service in the spotlight. . 2022-07-05 . www.verizon.com . en.
- Web site: 2022-04-18 . Military Appreciation Month Discounts 2022 . 2022-06-15 . Military Benefits . en-US . 2024-08-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817162906/https://veteran.com/memorial-day-sales-discounts-deals/ . live .
- Web site: Weinberg . Sarah . 2019-05-21 . IHOP Is Selling $1 Short Stack Pancakes Today For National Military Appreciation Month . 2022-06-16 . Delish . en-US . 2022-06-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220612200510/https://www.delish.com/food-news/a27542183/ihop-short-stack-1-dollar-military-appreciation/ . live .
- Web site: Stabile . Angelica . 2022-05-16 . Wisconsin father-son duo thank America's military heroes from the 'bottom of our heart' . 2022-07-05 . Fox News . en-US.
- Web site: Support Military Families in Honor of Military Appreciation Month . 2022-07-05 . www.redcross.org . en . 2022-05-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220521195343/https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2022/support-military-families-during-military-appreciation-month.html . live .
- Web site: Lee . Melissa . National Military Appreciation Month: 40 of the best military discounts of 2021 . 2022-09-14 . USA Today . en-US . 2022-09-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220914022611/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/reviewed/2021/05/01/national-military-appreciation-month-all-best-military-discounts/7413596002/ . live .
- Web site: 2022-04-29 . NASCAR community unites to pay tribute to US Armed Forces through NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola . 2022-06-29 . Official Site Of NASCAR . en-US . 2022-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220629200036/https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/04/29/nascar-community-unites-to-pay-tribute-to-us-armed-forces-through-nascar-salutes-together-with-coca-cola/ . live .
- Web site: May 17, 2022 . Military Appreciation Month: Honoring the veterans aboard the Blue Ghost . 2022-07-11 . kiiitv.com . en-US . 2022-07-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220711041843/https://www.kiiitv.com/article/news/military-matters/honoring-the-veterans-aboard-the-lexington/503-dc1847db-5339-4883-8f9b-f3f8eb1955a6 . live .
- Web site: Schultz . Jaclyn . Las Vegas veterans group helps shine spotlight on cannabis to aid PTSD . 2022-09-01 . fox5vegas . 12 May 2022 . en . 2022-09-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220901023440/https://www.fox5vegas.com/2022/05/12/las-vegas-veterans-group-helps-shine-spotlight-cannabis-aid-ptsd/ . live .
- Web site: MILITARY 'MAHALO' . 2022-12-15 . www.defense.gov.
- Web site: 2022-05-02 . May is Military Appreciation Month: Buffalo Soldiers at the California African American Museum . 2023-01-03 . KTLA . en-US . 2023-01-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103015825/https://ktla.com/morning-news/may-is-military-appreciation-month-buffalo-soldiers-at-the-california-african-american-museum/ . live .
- Web site: "An opportunity for us to give back": State Fair vendors mark Military Appreciation Day . 2022-09-14 . CBS News . en-US . 2022-09-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220914023630/https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/an-opportunity-for-us-to-give-back-state-fair-vendors-mark-military-appreciation-day/ . live .
- Web site: 2021-05-01 . National Military Appreciation Month ~ May United Relief Foundation . 2022-09-14 . en-US . 2024-08-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817164753/https://unitedrelieffoundation.org/national-military-appreciation-month-2022/ . live .