Let’s start the year off right and mark these special days that recognize our military men and women. (We’re already past some of the January observances, but you can mark them on your calendar for next year.)
January
- Second Week: National Letter Writing Week
- January 2: Motivation and Inspiration Day (remember the commitment and dedication of our military men and women and let their service inspire you)
- January 6: Blue Star Mothers of America (chartered by Congress in 1960)
February
- February 3: Four Chaplains Day (set aside to honor the four U.S. Army chaplains who gave their lives to save others when the troop ship USAT Dorchester sank during World War II)
- February 4: USO birthday
- February 19: Coast Guard Reserves birthday
- February 20: Presidents Day
March
- March 3: Navy Reserves birthday
- March 3: National Anthem Day
- March 4: Hug a GI Day
- March13: K9 Veterans Day
- March 15: American Legions birthday
- March 17: Submarine Day
- March 19: National Day of Honor
- March 30: Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
April
- Month of the Military Child
- April 4: Gold Star Wives Day
- April 6: Army Day
- April 14: Air Force Reserve birthday
- April 23: Army Reserves birthday
May
- National Military Appreciation Month
- May 1: Silver Star Service Banner Day (honoring America’s wounded, injured and ill service members)
- May 2: National Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Day
- May 7: National Day of Prayer
- May 8: V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day, World War II)
- May 8: World Red Cross Day
- Friday before Mother’s Day: Military Spouse Appreciation Day
- Second Sunday in May: Mother’s Day (military moms face special challenges, remember them when you honor your own mom)
- Second Saturday to third Sunday: Armed Forces Week
- Third Saturday in May: Armed Forces Day
- May 13: Children of Fallen Patriots Day
- May 13: Top Gun Day
- May 22: Maritime Day
- Last Monday in May: Memorial Day
June
- PTSD Awareness Month
- June 6: D-Day
- June 14: Army Birthday
- June 14: U.S. Flag Day
- The week that includes June 14: National Flag Week
- June 23: Coast Guard Auxiliary Birthday
- June 27: PTSD Awareness Day
- June 28 Operation Red Wings Observance
July
- July 4: Independence Day
- July 21: Department of Veterans Administration birthday
- July 29: Anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps
August
- August 4: Coast Guard Day
- August 7: Purple Heart Day
- August 14 National Spirit of ’45 Day
- August 14: National Navajo Code Talkers Day
- August 16: National Airborne Day
- August 19: National Aviation Day
- August 29: Marine Corps Reserve birthday
September
- September 2: V-J Day (Victory in Japan, World War II)
- September 11: Patriot Day (9/11 Remembrance Day)
- September 13: Uncle Sam Day
- September 16: American Legion Day
- Third Friday in September: Constitution Day
- September 18: Air Force (USAF) birthday
- September 19: National POW/MIS Recognition Day
- September 28: Gold Star Mothers Day
October
- October 13: U.S. Navy (USN) birthday
- October 26: Day of the Deployed
November
- Military Family Month
- Aviation History Month
- November 10: Marine Corps Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
December
- December 1: Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxiliary) birthday
- December 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
- December 7: Letter Writing Day (remember someone deployed by writing them a letter)
- December 12: National Wreaths Across America
- December 13: U.S. National Guard birthday
- December 15: Bill of Rights Day
- December 28: Anniversary of the Army Chaplain Assistant
