“May is Military Appreciation Month” — MRFF Board Member John Compere explains the six different observances in the month of May honoring our service members and their families

Published On: May 4, 2023|Categories: Top News|0 Comments|
Headshot of John Compere on American Flag background

The United States Senate and House of Representatives by resolutions passed in 1999 designated May as National Military Appreciation Month to provide a grateful nation the opportunity to publicly demonstrate appropriate appreciation for the service and sacrifice made by our American military members and their families.

Military Appreciation Month for 2023 includes observances of Loyalty Day (May 1), Victory in Europe Day (May 8), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 12), Children of Fallen Patriots Day (May 13), Armed Forces Day (May 20) and Memorial Day (May 29).

Loyalty Day kicks off military appreciation month by reaffirming our national loyalty and reflecting on the proud heritage of our constitutional freedoms. All military members, upon entering military service, take the sworn loyalty oath to support, defend and bear true faith and allegiance to our secular United States Constitution. It is the affirmation we are one nation under the Constitution and it is the Constitution in which we trust. We were the first nation independently established by and for “We the People” (Constitution Preamble) with no acknowledgment of other authority (emperor, monarch, dictator, deity, religion, scripture, etc).

Victory in Europe or V-E Day celebrates the day in 1945 when Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies marking the end of World War II, Nazi fascism and the Holocaust in Europe.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day is the Friday before Mother’s Day and honors military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and activities recognizing their contributions, support and sacrifices as well as the role of military families in keeping our military strong and ready.

Children of Fallen Patriots Day remembers and acknowledges the children left behind by our fallen military members and the suffering and struggle they have to endure as a result of the death of their parents.

Armed Forces Day recognizes the men and women in the active, reserve and national guard components of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force. It traditionally concludes Armed Forces Week and is a special day of appreciation for those serving, their families and the communities supporting them. It is also a reminder of the military’s importance and the critical role it plays in our independence, security and democracy. There are 1,335,548 active duty members and 793,808 reserve and guard members. 167,206 are deployed worldwide in foreign countries. These are the military men and women currently serving in their uniform.

Memorial Day is our national holiday for remembering the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the military service of this country to preserve the freedoms we have as Americans. It memorializes our patriotic military members who gave their lives serving this country. The National Moment of Remembrance Act requests that we pause at 3pm for one minute as an act of national unity to remember our fallen military heroes. More than 1,354,644 have perished fighting for this country and over 40,031 remain missing in action. These are the military men and women who never made it out of their uniform.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration will honor our Vietnam veterans and their families on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with many events May 11-13 (www.vietnamwar50th.com). There are 7 million living Vietnam War veterans and 10 million families of those who served.

It is also important to remember that Veterans Day is our national holiday every November 11th (commemorating the World War I armistice declared at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918). It honors those patriotic men and women, living or deceased, who have served our country honorably in the military during war or peacetime for any length of service and are no longer serving. There are 18.8 million veterans living in the United States. These are the military men and women who have hung up their uniform.  

As loyal and patriotic Americans, we extend genuine gratitude to all military members and their families serving this country.

John Compere
Brigadier General, US Army (Retired) 
Disabled American Veteran (Vietnam Era)
Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Texas rancher

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