May is Military Appreciation Month
PUBLISHED: May 05, 2010
May is Military Appreciation Month. Military Appreciation Month was started to honor, remember, recognize and appreciate those who have served and those now serving and to know the history behind it all.
In April 2004, H.Con. Res. 328 was passed with unanimous consent by both the House and the Senate. The resolution establishes May as National Military Appreciation Month and by doing so recognizes and honors the United States Armed Forces.
National Military Appreciation Month includes:
Loyalty Day - May 1st , made an official holiday by the U.S. Congress on July 18, 1958, is a day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.
Military Spouse Appreciation Day - May 7th, is a day that is set aside each year to recognize and honor the contributions and sacrifices of military spouses. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the Friday before Mother's Day to be designated as Military Spouse Appreciation Day.
VE (Victory in Europe) Day - May 8 marks the formal celebration of the Allies' victory in Europe during World War II, May 8, 1945.
Armed Forces Day - May 15th, first celebrated in 1950, this day honors the combined forces of all branches of the US military. It is celebrated each year on the third Saturday of May, with parades, military reenactments, and open houses at military bases.
Before 1950, there were individual holidays in honor of each of the five branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard). In an act of unity, President Truman created one holiday for all the armed forces.
Today, about 1.5 million people are on active duty in the United States, with another 850,000 people serving in the seven reserve and guard divisions.
This year's theme for Armed Forces Day is "United in Strength."
Memorial Day - May 30th, was originally called Decoration Day and commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the American military. Memorial Day was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South separately honored their dead on another day until after World War I. It became an official federal holiday in 1971.
To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."
LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE:
Friends of Fisher House, Illinois #253
Fisher Houses provide compassionate lodging in warm, supportive home environments free of charge for the families of seriously ill patients being treated at military and VA medical centers.
http://www.fofhil.org/index.html
Operation Support Our Troops - Illinois
Operation Support Our Troops-Illinois, Inc. is one of the largest volunteer based military support efforts in the country and is funded solely by donations.
630-971-1150
http://www.osotil.org/mainpage.html
Yellow Ribbon Support Group
Yellow Ribbon supports the men and women of the United States active military forces deployed to foreign shores through prayers, letters, and "wish list" packages on behalf of all Americans.
Pat McCoy (Mac) at 847-359-2429
http://www.yellowribbonsg.org/help_to_help.html
We Do Care
We Do Care provides tangible opportunities for the American public to thank and support active duty military personnel, their families, and veterans.
847-381-7797
http://wedocare.4thgenerationsystems.com/
Salute, Inc.
Salute, Inc.., passionately pursues meeting the financial, physical and emotional needs of the military service members, veterans and their families.
847-359-8811
http://www.saluteinc.org/page/show/40382-salute-inc-
Transitional Living Services - New Horizons Center
New Horizons is a transitional home for homeless veterans.
815-334-0540
http://www.tlsveterans.org/
Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America
IAVA is dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans.
http://iava.org/
HISTORY / INFORMATION:
What are the various branches of the US Armed Forces?
The United States armed forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
How many people are currently serving in the US Armed Forces? As of February 28, 2009 1,454,515 people are on active duty in the military with an additional 848,000 people in the seven reserve components.
Who commands the US Armed Forces?
The President is the overall head of the military and the United States Department of Defense (DoD). DOD is the Department by which military policy is carried out. DOD is headed by the Secretary of Defense, who serves as the President's second-in-command of the military. To coordinate military action with diplomacy, the President has an advisory National Security Council headed by a National Security Advisor. Both the President and Secretary of Defense are advised by a six-member Joint Chiefs of Staff, which includes the head of each of the service branches, led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
All five branches of the military are under the direction of the Department of Defense, except the Coast Guard, which was made an agency of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 following governmental reorganization after the September 11 attacks.
The National Security Act of 1947, created the modern U.S. military framework; the Act merged the Department of War and the Department of the Navy into the National Military Establishment renamed the Department of Defense in 1949.
What are the motto's of the various branches of the US Armed Forces?
U.S. Army: This We'll Defend
U.S. Marines: Semper Fidelis translated means "Always Faithful"
U.S. Navy: Non Sibi Sed Patriae translated means "Not Self But Country"
U.S. Air Force: Un Ab Alto translated means "One Over All"
U.S. Coast Guard: Semper Paratus translated means "Always Ready"
U.S. MILITARY MILESTONES IN THE 20TH & 21ST CENTURIES:
1903-14 - Panama. US forces protect American interests and lives during and following the revolution for independence from Colombia.
1915-34 - Haiti. - US forces maintain order during a period of chronic political instability.
1916-24 - Dominican Republic. American naval forces maintain order during a period of rebellion.
1917-18 - World War I. On April 6, 1917, the United States declares war with Germany and on December 7, 1917, with Austria-Hungary.
1941-45 - World War II. On December 8, 1941, the United States declares war with Japan in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
June 6, 1944 - "D-Day" The Invasion of Normandy - The greatest single Allied operation of World War II, the invasion force included 7,000 ships and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries.
1945-49 Occupation of part of Germany.
1945-55 Occupation of part of Austria.
1945-52 Occupation of Japan.
1950-53 - Korean War. The United States responds to the North Korean invasion of South Korea by going to its assistance. US forces deployed in Korea exceeded 300,000 during the last year of the conflict.
1962-75 - Laos. October 1962-1975, the US plays an important role in military support of anti-Communist forces in Laos.
1955-75 - Vietnam. First military advisors sent to Vietnam on 12 Feb 1955. By 1964, US troop levels are at 21,000. August 1964 Congress passes the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, expressing support for "all necessary measures" to repel armed attacks against US forces. By April 1969 troop levels are at 543,000.
1970 - Cambodia Campaign. US troops ordered into Cambodia to clean out Communist sanctuaries from which Viet Cong attack US forces.
1980 - Iran, April 26, 1980, President Carter reports the use of six U.S. transport planes and eight helicopters in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the American hostages in Iran.
1988 - 1990 Panama, May 11, 1989, in response to General Noriega's disregard of the results of the Panamanian election, US troops are sent to protect American lives and interests. By February 13, 1990, all forces are withdrawn, General Manuel Noriega, is captured and brought to the U.S.
1990 - Saudi Arabia, August 9, 1990, President Bush reports the deployment of substantial elements of the US armed forces into the Persian Gulf region to help defend Saudi Arabia after the August 2 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.
1991 - Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm, January 16, 1991, U.S. forces attack Iraqi forces and military targets in Iraq and Kuwait in conjunction with a coalition of allies.
1992-95 - Somalia/Somali Civil War, December 10, 1992 - President Bush reports that he had deployed US armed forces to Somalia in response to a humanitarian crisis and a UN Security Council Resolution.
1993-Present - Bosnia-Herzegovina.
2001 - Present Afghanistan, October 7, 2001 - US Armed Forces invade Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 attacks.
2003 - Present Iraq, March 20, 2003. The US leads a coalition that includes Britain, Australia and Spain to invade Iraq with the stated goal of eliminating Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and undermining Saddam Hussein.
MORE RESOURCES:
History of Memorial Day
US Dept. of Veteran Affairs - http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp
The Library of Congress - http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/may30.html
PBS - http://www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/meaning/
US Military History
US Army Center of Military History - http://www.history.army.mil/index.html
The Library of Congress - http://www.memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query
The Smithsonian - National Museum of American History:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
VFW mission is to "honor the dead by helping the living" through veterans' service, community service, national security and a strong national defense."
http://www.vfw.org/
Disabled American Veterans
DAV is dedicated to building better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families.
http://www.dav.org/
United Service Organizations (USO)
The USO provides morale, welfare and recreation-type services to service members and their families.
http://www.uso.org/
The American Legion
The nation's largest veterans service organization.
http://www.legion.org/
Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County
The Veterans Assistance Commission promotes and protects the rights of veterans and their immediate family members through education, communications, and technology.
http://www.co.cook.il.us/portal/server.pt/community/veterans_assistance_commission/292
Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County
The VAC assist veterans with service and non service connected claims, aid and attendance, debt management issues, education and assistance with changing discharge status.
http://www.lakecountyil.gov/veterans/default.htm
Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County
The VAC provides services to the local veterans community in the areas of Financial Assistance, VA Claims & Advocacy, Transportation to the North Chicago VA Medical Center, and Referrals Assistance.
http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/vac/Pages/index.aspx
Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs
http://www.veterans.illinois.gov/
US Department of Veteran Affairs
http://www.va.gov/
