National Military Appreciation Month 2027

About National Military Appreciation Month

May already holds several days tied to military service, and this observance draws them together into one month. Armed Forces Day falls on the third Saturday in May, and the month ends with Memorial Day, the federal holiday on the last Monday in May that honors those who died while serving. The month's purpose is broader: to thank people serving now, veterans, and the families who carry much of the strain of deployments and frequent moves.

The observance started in the Senate. Senator John McCain introduced Senate Resolution 33 in February 1999, and the Senate agreed to it 93 to 0 on April 30, 1999. It designated May 1999 as National Military Appreciation Month and asked Americans to honor service members past and present, including those who had died in the pursuit of freedom and peace. McCain then introduced a bill to add a permanent May designation to Title 36 of the US Code. The Senate passed it by unanimous consent in June 2000, but the House never acted on it.

In 2004 Congress returned to the idea with House Concurrent Resolution 328, which passed the House 424 to 0 on March 24 and the Senate by unanimous consent on April 26. It supports the goals of an annual National Military Appreciation Month and urges the president to issue a proclamation asking the public, federal agencies, states, localities and media to observe it every year. Because the resolution is not a law, the month has no permanent legal designation; it is kept by veterans' groups, military bases, schools, businesses and local governments.

Sources: Congress.gov: S.Res.33, 106th Congress (1999), Congress.gov: S.1419, 106th Congress (1999-2000), GovInfo: H.Con.Res.328, 108th Congress, text as passed by the House (2004), Congress.gov: H.Con.Res.328, 108th Congress, actions, 5 U.S.C. 6103: Federal holidays (Cornell Legal Information Institute). How we check dates.

How to mark National Military Appreciation Month

• Write a thank-you letter or send a care package through an established program that delivers mail to deployed troops or veterans' hospitals.
• Offer practical help to a military family near you, such as a meal, yard work or child care while a spouse is deployed.
• Attend an Armed Forces Day open house, parade or community event in mid-May.
• Ask a veteran in your family or community about their service, and if they agree, record the conversation for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.
• Volunteer with or donate to a reputable veterans' service organization, after checking its record with a charity evaluator.
• Visit a local war memorial or national cemetery, especially around Memorial Day at the end of the month.

National Military Appreciation Month dates