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!

R.E.D. Friday - Wear RED every Friday to Remember Everyone Deployed!
 Meme by Daveda Gruber

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!

January 2027 Military Holidays

Looking for a deep dive on winter patriotic milestones and veteran support? Check out our complete January Military Holidays Guide!

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Snowcare for Troops Awareness Month - January

2027 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• January 6 - World Day for War Orphans  
• January 27 - Vietnam Peace Day - 

February 2027 Military Holidays

2027 Week: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Salute to Veteran Patients - February 14-20, 2027 (Week of February 14 - Valentine's Day)

2027 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• G.I. Joe Day - February 1
• National Freedom Day - February 1
• Philippine-American War Memorial Day - February 4
• USO Day - February 4
• International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers - February 12 (Also Known as Red Hand Day)
• Remember the Maine Day (U.S.S. Maine) - February 15
• President's Day - February 16, 2026 (Third Monday in February)
• Washington's Birthday - February 16, 2026 (Third Monday in February). Some State and Local Governments refer to this day as President's Day. His Actual Birthday is on February 22
• Coast Guard Reserves Birthday - February 19
• Iwo Jima Day - February 19

March 2027 Military Holidays

2027 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Invest in Veterans Week - March 1-7

2027 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day - March 1
• Casimir Pulaski Day - March 1, 2027 (First Monday in March)
• Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day (Bikini Day) - March 1
• World Civil Defense Day - March 1
• Navy Reserves Birthday - March 3
• U.S. Navy Medical Corps - March 3 (Established March 3, 1871)
• Hug a GI Day - March 4
  
• Alamo Day - March 6
• K-9 Veterans Day - March 13
• Operation Iraqi Freedom Day - March 19
• National Medal of Honor Day - March 25
  
• Vietnam Veterans Day or Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day - March 29

We are currently in the process of updating the movable Holiday dates to 2027 Dates! The months below still have 2026 dates and will be updated shortly!

April 2026 Military Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Confederate History Month
• Month of the Military Child 
  

2026 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Global Day of Action on Military Spending -April 10 - May 9, 2026
• Holocaust Remembrance Day or Yom HaShoah - Evening of April 13, 2026, to Evening of April 14, 2026
• Holocaust Remembrance Week - April 12-19, 2026 (Starts the Sunday before Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and continues through the following Sunday)

2026 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• U.S. Air Force Academy Day - April 1
• International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action - April 4
• Gold Star Spouses Day - April 5
• 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
• Winston Churchill Day - April 9
• Halifax Day (Local Observance in Halifax, North Carolina) - April 12
• Air Force Reserve Birthday - April 14
• Patriot's Day - April 20, 2026 (Massachusetts and Maine) (Third Monday of April)
• Army Reserves Birthday - April 23
• Confederate Heroes' Day - April 26 (State of FL)
• Confederate Memorial Day - April 27, 2026 (States of AL, GA)
• Confederate Memorial Day - April 27, 2026 (State of Mississippi)
• Mantanzas Mule Day - April 27
• Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare - April 29
• National Military Brats Day - April 30

May 2026 Military Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Military Appreciation Month 

2026 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Armed Forces Week - May 9-16, 2026 - (Week prior to Armed Forces Day, the 3rd Sunday in May)
• Global Day of Action on Military Spending - April 10 - May 9, 2026 
• Public Service Recognition Week - May 3-9, 2026 (First Full week of May)
  
• Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War II - May 8-9

2026 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Loyalty Day - May 1
• Silver Star Service Banner Day - May 1
• National Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Day - May 2, 2026 (First Saturday of May)
• Military Spouse Appreciation Day - May 8, 2026 (Friday before Mother's Day which is May 10, 2026)
• V-E Day - May 8
• Confederate Memorial Day - May 10, 2026 (States of North Carolina and South Carolina). Observed on May 11, 2026
• Children of Fallen Patriots Day - May 13
• The Stars and Stripes Forever Day - May 14
• International Conscientious Objector Day - May 15
• National Defense Transportation Day - May 15, 2026 (Third Friday in May)
  
• Armed Forces Day - May 16, 2026 (Third Saturday in May)
• National Maritime Day - May 22
  
• Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day (ARMAD) - May 23, 2026 (Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend) 
  
• Memorial Day - May 25, 2026 - (Last Monday in May)

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

June 2026 Military Holidays

2026 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• America The Beautiful Week - June 7-13, 2026 (First Full Week of June)
• Greencare for Troops Week - June 14-20, 2026
• Honor America Days - June 14 - July 4 (21 Days starting on June 14)
• National Flag Week - June 14-20, 2026 (The week that includes June 14)

2026 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Don't Give Up The Ship Day - June 1
• D-Day Invasion Anniversary - June 6
• Flag Day - June 14
  
• Pause for the Pledge Day - June 14
• US Army Birthday - June 14
• Bunker Hill Day - June 17, 2026 (State of Massachusetts)
• United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Birthday - June 23
• PTSD Awareness Day - June 27
• Operation Red Wings Observance - June 28

July 2026 Military Holidays

2026 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Independence Day (Fourth of July) - July 4
• Department of Veterans Administration Created - July 21
• Hire a Veteran Day - July 25
• Armed Forces Unification Day - July 26
• Anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps - July 29
• Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary - July 29

August 2026 Military Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Antiterrorism Awareness Month - August

2026 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

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

2026 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: https://www.purpleheartfoundation.org/)
• Military Marriage Day - August 14
• National Spirit of '45 Day - August 14
• V-J Day - August 14 (Japan Surrenders)
• V-J Day - August 15 (Japan's Surrender Announced to the World)
• Bennington Battle Day (State of Vermont) - August 16
• National Airborne Day - August 16
• National Aviation Day - August 19
• Marine Corps Reserve Birthday - August 29

September 2025 Military Holidays

2026 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 
• Defenders Day (State of Maryland) - September 12
• National POW / MIA Recognition Day - September 18, 2026 (Third Friday in September)
• US Air Force Birthday (USAF) - September 18
  
• Gold Star Mother's Day - September 27, 2026 (Last Sunday in September)

October 2026 Military Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Agent Orange Awareness Month

2026 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Alvin C. York Day (World War I Hero) - October 8
• General Pulaski Memorial Day - October 11
• US Navy Birthday (USN) - October 13
• National Pets for Veterans Day - October 21
• Day of the Deployed - October 26

November 2026 Military Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• National Military Family Month 
• National Veterans and Military Families Month

2026 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 2026 Military Holidays

2026 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!