Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure the nation was given the chance to publicly show their appreciation for troops currently serving and for those who served in the past.  

Silver Star Banner Day on May 1 represents all the sacrifices of those wounded, ill, or dying, as well as those awarded the Silver Star Medal. The colors blue represents “hope” and silver “gallantry.” Many families put a Silver Star decal in their window to honor their loved ones who were hurt in combat.

The United States Army Reserve celebrates its 115^th Birthday on April 23, 2023.  Often called “Citizen Soldiers”, these individuals are highly trained and deploy alongside Active Duty soldiers.  Whether performing combat missions abroad or saving lives and protecting property at home, the Army Reserve offers versatile, available, and effective capabilities to the Army at a reduced cost to the American taxpayer.

The United States observed Gold Star Spouses Day on April 5 in honor of the surviving loved ones who lost their military member spouse in the line of duty or as a result of service connected injuries and illnesses.  

April has been designated as the Month of the Military Child since the 1980s. It is the special time to recognize the sacrifices made due to deploying parents and frequent moves to new locations, sometimes to foreign lands, requiring the leaving of school and friends because of their parent’s military commitments.