Military Holidays

There are many different Military Holidays and Observances to honor our Veterans, the active duty personnel currently serving in the US Military, those in the reserves, and the military families, the military spouses and military children left behind. They deserve our Love and Respect! As a Military dependent, this is a subject near and dear to my heart. 

I've also included many of the Patriotic Holidays on this page, and those like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, who was a leader of civil rights, human rights, and promoted peace!

My Dad, 1st LT Smith in 1953 during the Korean War, before a Combat Mission.

Our Dad was a career Army officer who retired as a Lt. Colonel. He served one year in the Korean War, and two tours of Vietnam. He was a pilot who flew planes during the Korean War, and helicopters during the Vietnam War.

My Dad, 1st Lt. Smith in Augsberg Germany in 1956. My sister Kerry and I were both born there.

Branches of the Military

We plan to do an overview page for each of the different branches of the US Military. Each branch has their respective Guard and Reserve units. These are:

• US Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard
  
• US Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard
• US Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve
  
• US Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve
  
• US Navy, Navy Reserve

Video Tribute to the US Military Soldiers!

Below, is a must watch video...it has some amazing shots!

Military Holidays

Ultimately, there will be a devoted page done for each of the different Military Holidays and Observances.  As pages are completed, they will be linked up below, as well as in our Daily Holiday pages, our Holidays by Month pages, and our Holidays and Observances Alphabetical Listing.

January

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Martin Luther King Jr's Day - January 18, 2016 (Third Monday in January) He was a leader of civil rights, human rights, and promoted peace!
• Vietnam Peace Day - January 27

February

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• USO Day - February 4
• Remember the Maine Day (U.S.S. Maine) - February 15
• President's Day - February 15, 2016 (Third Monday in February)
• Coast Guard Reserves Birthday - February 19
  
• Iwo Jima Day - February 19

March

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day - March 1
• Navy Reserves Birthday - March 3
  
• Hug a GI Day - March 4
• K-9 Veterans Day - March 13
• National Day of Honor - March 19
• National Medal of Honor Day- March 25
  
• Vietnam Veterans Day or Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day - March 29

April

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Month of the Military Child - Entire Month of April
  

2016 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Holocaust Remembrance Week - April 3-10, 2016

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• U.S. Air Force Academy Day - April 1
• Gold Star Wives Day - April 5
  
• Army Day - April 6
• Appomattox Day - April 9
• Jenkins Ear Day - April 9
• National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day - April 9
• Global Day of Action on Military Spending - April 13, 2015 (2016 TBA) The aim of this day is promoting a common awareness of the amounts of money spent on military, and advocating a shift of budget priorities to spending on human development. 
• Air Force Reserve Birthday - April 14
• Confederate Memorial Day - April 22 (States of AL, FL, GA)
• Army Reserves Birthday - April 23
• Holocaust Remembrance Day - April 27
• Mantanzas Mule Day - April 27

May

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Military Appreciation Month - Entire Month of May
  

2016 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Armed Forces Week - May 14-22, 2016 (Starts on Second Saturday in May)
• Public Service Recognition Week - May 1-7, 2016 (First Full week of May)

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Loyalty Day - May 1
• Silver Star Service Banner Day - May 1
• National Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Day - May 2
• Military Spouse Appreciation Day - May 6, 2016 (Friday before Mother's Day which is May 8, 2016)
• Armed Forces Day Military-Amateur Crossband Communications Day - May 7, 2016 (First Saturday in May)
• Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War II - May 8-9
• V-E Day - May 8
• Confederate Memorial Day - May 10 (States of North Carolina and South Carolina)
• Armed Forces Day - May 21, 2016 (Third Saturday in May)
  
• Maritime Day - May 22
  
• Memorial Day - May 30, 2016 - (Last Monday in May)

June

2016 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Flag Week - June 12-18, 2016 (The week that includes June 14)

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• D-Day Invasion Anniversary - June 6
• Flag Day - June 14
• US Army Birthday - June 14
• United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Birthday - June 23
• PTSD Awareness Day - June 27
• Operation Red Wings Observance - June 28

July

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Independence Day (Fourth of July) - July 4
• Department of Veterans Administration Created - July 21
• Anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps - July 29

August

2016 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Aviation Week - August 15-21, 2016 (Always during the week of Orville Wright's Birthday on August 19)

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• US Coast Guard Birthday (USCG) - August 4
• Hiroshima Day - August 6
• Purple Heart Day - August 7 (More Info: Purple Heart Foundation: http://www.purpleheartfoundation.org/)
• National Spirit of '45 Day - August 14, 2016 (Second Sunday in August)
• V-J Day - August 14 (Japan Surrenders)
• V-J Day - August 15 (Japan's Surrender Announced to the World)
• National Airborne Day - August 16
• National Aviation Day - August 19
• Marine Corps Reserve Birthday - August 29

September

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• V-J Day - September 2 (Ceremony & Formal Signing of Japan's Surrender) (See August 14 and 15)
• 9/11 Remembrance Day - September 11
• Patriot Day - September 11 
• National POW / MIA Recognition Day - September 16, 2016 (Third Friday in September)
• US Air Force Birthday (USAF) - September 18
• Gold Star Mother's Day - September 25, 2016 (Last Sunday in September)

October

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Agent Orange Awareness Month

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• US Navy Birthday (USN) - October 13
• Day of the Deployed - October 26

November

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Military Family Month - Entire Month of November

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• US Marine Corps Birthday (USMC) - November 10
• Armistice Day - November 11
• Veteran's Day - November 11
• Veteran Owned Business Anniversary - November 11

December

2016 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Civil Air Patrol Birthday (USAF Auxiliary) - December 1
• Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day - December 7
• US National Guard Birthday - December 13

Follow our Holidays and Observances Military Holidays Board on Pinterest - below you will see our 30 most recent pins! We will have a devoted board for all the main holidays, and will showcase those on the devoted pages for that holiday.

Click on the SEE ON PINTEREST bar right above, (link will take you to Pinterest) to see all the rest of our photo's on this board, and to Follow the board. New photos will be constantly added!