MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH -May 2023 - National Today

Home » What Month Is For The Military » MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH -May 2023 - National Today

Maybe your like

Skip to content

National Today

Menu National Today Log in Sign up Search Search Cancel Search National Today Submit

Introduced in 1999 by Sen. John McCain and honored every May, Military Appreciation Month encourages Americans to reflect on the sacrifices made by soldiers, sailors, and all current and former military personnel.

May is an appropriate month for a military remembrance, since the month also includes VE Day, which commemorates the end of World War II in Europe, and culminates in Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May to honor veterans who died in service.

During the month of May, Military Appreciation Month pays tribute to the members of the military.

History of Military Appreciation Month

The American military was founded even before the country itself. To fight the British and gain independence for the future United States, the Continental Congress created the army in 1775. After winning the Revolutionary War, the Founding Fathers didn’t intend to have a standing army. They disbanded the Continental Army and called for the “well-armed militias” that have become a flashpoint in today’s debate over the Second Amendment.

Today, the U.S. military is the world’s largest employer, with close to 3.5 million personnel employed in one way or another. The U.S. Department of Defense hires more people than any other organization or corporation in the world. By contrast, Wal-Mart, the largest private company, has 2.2 million employees worldwide.

Military personnel work in a variety of jobs, and many never see combat at all. After their service, they go on to hold important civilian jobs in many fields including information security, IT, commercial airline flight, corporate management, and more.

Military Appreciation Month honors everyone who has served in a branch of the U.S. military and reminds us that we owe many of our freedoms to the sacrifices made by military personnel. The month-long celebration was formally introduced by Senator John McCain in 1999, using a month that marks many important military anniversaries to highlight the contributions of our troops. In addition to keeping the country safe during wartime, the U.S. military also conducts important research that has led to many important and useful civilian technologies that we use every day like GPS, canned food, and jet engines.

Military Appreciation Month timeline

September 20, 2011 Don't Ask Don't Tell Repealed

President Clinton's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, which barred openly gay or bisexual people from military service, is repealed by a federal appeals court and Congress.

August 9, 1945 U.S. Drops the Bomb

The United States drops two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing more than 200,000 people, ending the war on the Western front, and marking the first and only time atomic weapons have been used in war.

April 19, 1865 The Civil War Ends

Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, ending the bloodiest conflict in American history.

June 14 1775 Birth of the U.S. Army

The Continental Congress votes to raise ten companies of riflemen, kicking off the American Revolution and effectively creating the U.S. Army.

Military Appreciation Month FAQs

What is Military Family Appreciation Month?

Military Family Appreciation Month is celebrated during the month of November, bringing awareness to the sacrifices and challenges family members make for their uniformed loved ones.

Is there a month for veterans?

Every year, we celebrate National Veterans and Military Families Month in November.

What are the three major military holidays?

Though there are multiple military holidays throughout the year, the three biggest ones are Veterans’ Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.

Military Appreciation Month Activities

  1. Thank a military member or veteran

    Call a military member you know and thank them for their service. Let them know their efforts aren’t going unseen!

  2. Brush up on your military history

    The history of the U.S. military is full of fascinating, epic stories that run the gamut from tragedy to triumph. Take some time to read up on the many ways the military affects American society.

  3. Volunteer with a local veterans’ service organization

    Many veterans are elderly, on a fixed income, and even homeless. Find a local organization that supports these vulnerable populations and volunteer to serve some food, distribute supplies, or spend time socializing with veterans who need it.

5 Fascinating Facts About The Military

  1. The internet

    The web started during the Cold War as a way to connect computers in different science labs.

  2. GPS

    After satellites became more common, a government-funded space-based navigation system from the 1990s became the basis for today's everyday GPS uses.

  3. Walkie talkies

    Two-way radios were invented by Motorola on behalf of the U.S. Army in the 1940s – the radios had to be carried on soldiers’ backs as they walked, giving them their now-ubiquitous name.

  4. Duct tape

    The Duct Tape we all know and love was invented to help World War II soldiers quickly repair equipment.

  5. Microwave ovens

    This technology was accidentally invented by a Raytheon engineer from radar technology invented for the military.

Why We Love Military Appreciation Month

  1. It reminds us to thank our veterans

    If you know an active duty soldier or veteran, let them know you appreciate their service this month. Send them a small gift or card to thank them for their sacrifice.

  2. We can appreciate democracy

    Veterans often engage in conflicts to help preserve the values of democracy. To honor their sacrifices, we can help our communities, serve those less fortunate than us, and exercise our rights to vote and engage with our elected officials.

  3. It reminds us of all the contributions the military makes

    The military doesn’t just wage war. In peacetime, military personnel and reservists assist with relief efforts during storms, earthquakes, disease outbreaks, and other natural disasters.

Military Appreciation Month dates

Year Date Day
2026 May 1 Friday
2027 May 1 Saturday
2028 May 1 Monday
2029 May 1 Tuesday
2030 May 1 Wednesday

Military Appreciation Month related holidays

MonMay 26Featured

Memorial Day

TueNov 10Featured

Marine Corps Birthday

Veterans Day 2019 WedNov 11Featured

Veterans Day

See More

AprMayJun
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31
National Physical Education and Sport Week Agriculture and Labor Day Beltane Blessing Day Buddha Purnima Calan Mai Couple Appreciation Day CSS Reboot Day Day of Vesak Executive Coaching Day Frequent Flyer Day General Prayer Day Global Love Day God of Medicine's Birthday International Doodle Dog Day International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day Kentucky Oaks Labor Day Philippines Learn to Ride a Bike Day Lei Day Marshall Islands Constitution Day May Day Mother Goose Day National Black Barber Shop Appreciation Day National Chocolate Parfait Day National Infertility Survival Day National Loyalty Day National Mantra Day National No Pants Day National Purebred Dog Day National Rotate Your Beer Day National Space Day National Tuba Day New Homeowners Day Phone in Sick Day Save The Rhino Day School Lunch Hero Day School Principals' Day Silver Star Banner Day Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day Vesak Worthy Wage Day ALS Awareness Month American Cheese Month American Wetlands Month Anxiety Awareness Month Arthritis Awareness Month Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Awareness of Medical Orphans Month Be Kind to Animals Month Bealtaine Festival Better Sleep Month Better Speech and Hearing Month Bladder Cancer Awareness Month Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month Brain Cancer Awareness Month Building Safety Month Celiac Awareness Month Chip Your Pet Month Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month Clean Air Month Community Action Month Correct Posture Month Creative Beginnings Month Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month Date Your Mate Month Deck Safety Month EDS Awareness Month Electromagnetic Radiation Awareness Month Family Wellness Month Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month Food Allergy Action Month Fungal Infection Awareness Month Gardening for Wildlife Month Get Caught Reading Month Gifts From The Garden Month Global Employee Health and Fitness Month Global Youth Traffic Safety Month Haitian Heritage Month Heal the Children Month Healthy Vision Month Hepatitis Awareness Month Homeschool Awareness Month Huntington's Disease Awareness Month Indian Heritage Month Internal Audit Awareness Month International Business Image Improvement Month International Civility Awareness Month International Drum Month International Respect for Chickens Month International Victorious Woman Month Jewish American Heritage Month Labor History Month Latino Books Month Leaders of Tomorrow Month Lettuce Month Local and Community History Month Lung Health Awareness Month Lupus Awareness Month Make May Purple /Action On Stroke Month Maternal Mental Health Month May Measurement Month MCS Awareness Month Meditation Month Mediterranean Diet Month Melanoma / Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month Mental Health Awareness Month Military Appreciation Month Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month National Asparagus Month National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month National Barbecue Month National Bicycle Safety Month National Blood Pressure Month National Chocolate Custard Month National Comfort Month National Digestive Disease Awareness Month National Duckling Month fried egg on national egg month National Egg Month National Foster Care Month National Hamburger Month National Heritage Month National Inventors Month a nurse on National Lyme Disease Awareness Month National Lyme Disease Awareness Month National Moving Month National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month National Pet Month National Photography Month National Physical Fitness and Sports MonthNational Physiotherapy Month National Physiotherapy Month National Preservation Month National Prom Graduation Safety Month National Recommitment Month National Salad Month National Salsa Month National San Architect Month National Service Dog Eye Examination Month National Share a Story Month National Show Your Smile Month National Sight-Saving Month National Strawberry Month National Teen Self-Esteem Month National Tennis Month National Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness Month National Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month National Vinegar Month National Walking Month National Youth Traffic Safety Month Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Month Neurofibromatosis Month Older Americans Month Personal History Awareness Month Pet Sitter Safety Month REACT Month Responsible Animal Guardian Month Revise Your Work Schedule Month Save Your Tooth Month Small Business Month Speech and Hearing Awareness Month Steelmark Month Strike Out Strokes Month Stroke Awareness Month Syringomyelia Awareness Month Teen CEO Month Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month Ultraviolet Awareness Month Women's Health Month Zombie Awareness Month View all May holidays

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.

  • 6,184 Days celebrated
  • 18,552 Ways to celebrate
  • 10,000,000+ Happy users

About us

  • Our Mission
  • Our Story

Resources

  • For Businesses
  • For Journalists
  • For Brands
  • For Influencers
  • FAQs
  • News
  • Reminders
  • Videos

Contact Us

  • Promote an Event
  • Submit an Error

Our Services

  • Create A Holiday
  • Sponsor A Holiday
  • Data Licensing

Months

  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

Upcoming

  • Today
  • Tomorrow
  • Monday
  • Friday
  • Saturday

All Months

  • National Today Calendar

Gifts

  • Reviews and Gift Guides

Blog

  • Blog Home

Shopping Reviews

  • Baby
  • Car
  • Children
  • Health & Fitness
  • Home & Garden
  • Kitchen
  • Pets
  • Sleep
  • Tech
  • Travel

Gift Guides

  • By Age
  • By Interest
  • By Occasion
  • By Price
  • By Recipient

Popular Holidays

  • National Girlfriend Day
  • Day of the Dead
  • National Boyfriend Day
  • National Sons Day
  • Mexican Independence Day
  • Pride Month
  • National Best Friends Day
  • National Daughter Day
  • World Bicycle Day
  • National Dog Day

About National Today

We keep track of fun holidays and special moments on the cultural calendar — giving you exciting activities, deals, local events, brand promotions, and other exciting ways to celebrate.

Follow us on

Follow @NatlToday Copyright © 2017–2026 by National Today. Privacy policy
  • Holidays
  • News
  • Events
  • Birthdays
  • Reminders

Tag » What Month Is For The Military