Where to Celebrate Military Appreciation Month in 2021

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces sacrifice years of their lives and sometimes even pay the ultimate price to secure the freedoms American citizens enjoy every single day. To show our utmost gratitude for these brave service members, the month of May is designated as Military Appreciation Month.^1,2

Here, we’ll take a look at the specific holidays that occur this month along with how and where you can celebrate this year.

What Is Military Appreciation Month?

Every year, the entire month of May is set aside to recognize and celebrate both former and current members of the military in addition to their families and spouses.‌^1‌ National Military Appreciation Month serves as an opportunity for the country to unit in support of a common cause and give thanks.‌^1‌

Military Appreciation Month was first established by Congress in 1999 and has been celebrated every year since.‌² Various events, celebrations and observances take place during the month of May to highlight the many ways in which service members impact our daily lives. The president gives a public address to commemorate this special month.‌²

What Events Take Place during Military Appreciation Month?

The entire month of May is dedicated to showing gratitude and respect to military members, their spouses and their families, and there are many specific holidays throughout the month.‌²

Loyalty Day: May 1, 2021

Congress created Loyalty Day as an opportunity to reaffirm “loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.”³

Public Service Recognition Week: May 2 – 8, 2021

At the beginning of May, an entire week is dedicated to recognizing and showing appreciation for the public service members who serve at the county, state and federal level, including military personnel.‌⁴

Military Spouse Appreciation Day: May 8, 2021

To recognize the critical role spouses of military members play and the sacrifices they make, Military Spouse Appreciation Day takes place on the Friday just before Mother’s Day each year.‌⁵

VE Day: May 8, 2021

Short for Victory in Europe, VE Day commemorates the triumph of the Allied Forces over Nazi Germany in Europe during World War II.⁶

Armed Forces Day: May 15, 2021

Armed Forces Day is designated to show appreciation for all of the servicemen and servicewomen who are fighting for their country in the Armed Forces. This holiday is celebrated the 3^rd Saturday in May.‌⁷

Memorial Day: May 31, 2021

Recognized as a federal holiday, this day is set aside to remember all of the men and women who have died while serving their country.‌⁸

Where to Celebrate National Military Appreciation Month near Phoenix, Arizona?

Date	TBA	May 6-7, 2021	May 12, 2021	May 13, 2021
Event	Public Service Recognition Week4	First Responder Mental Health & Wellness Conference9	Women Who Lead10	Camp Pendleton Military Spouse Appreciation Day Celebration11
Details	Virtual events all week4	Speakers and resources9	Discussion forum and networking event10	Virtual meeting, motivational speakers and giveaways11
Location	NA4	Mesa, AZ9	Virtual10	Virtual11
More Info	Details	Details	Details	Details

Note: Due to COVID-19 restrictions some events may be canceled or altered. Please refer to the specific event website for accurate details.

How Can You Show Appreciation to Service Members?

The United States remains a shining symbol of freedom and democracy because of the sacrifices that military service members make every single day. It’s easy to take this liberty and security for granted. But, behind the scenes, military members are working hard to ensure this country remains free.

One of the simplest and best ways to show your appreciation to past and current service members is to say, “thank you.” It might seem like an insignificant gesture compared to the sacrifices these brave men and women make every day, but the recognition is appreciated by veterans and those in the Armed Forces.

Here at The Refrigeration School, we’re dedicated to supporting both current and former members of the military no matter the time of year. As a Military Friendly School, we try to make it as easy as possible to transition into civilian life through our skilled trades training programs.

The entire RSI team would like to take this time to say thank you—from the bottom of our hearts—to all past and current service members and their families for their sacrifices!