National Military Appreciation Month, which is celebrated from May 1-31, is a month-long observance dedicated to people serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Introduced in 1999 by U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and honored every May, Military Appreciation Month encourages Americans to reflect on the sacrifices made by soldiers, sailors, and all current and former military personnel. May is an appropriate month for a military remembrance, since the month also includes Victory in Europe Day, which commemorates the end of World War II in Europe; and culminates in Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May to honor veterans who died in service.
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The American military was founded even before the country itself. To fight the British and gain independence for the future United States, the Continental Congress created an army in 1775. After winning the Revolutionary War, the Founding Fathers didn’t intend to have a standing army. They disbanded the Continental Army and instead called for “well-armed militias,” as written in the U.S. Constitution.
Today, the U.S. military is the world’s largest employer, with close to 3.5 million personnel. The U.S. Department of Defense hires more people than any other organization or corporation in the world. By contrast, Walmart, the largest private company, has 2.2 million employees worldwide.
Military Appreciation Month reminds us to thank our veterans, letting them know that we appreciate their dedication to democracy and all of the other contributions members of the military make to their communities in times of both war and peace. Knowing that each of these men and women volunteered for the job gives us yet another reason to shower them with the kind of gratitude and respect that they deserve.
– Publisher David Brown