It began about two decades ago as part of The Great American Family project. Then in 1996, the Armed Services YMCA expanded Military Family Week, which occurred around Thanksgiving, into Military Family Month, which begins November 1st. Every November, the President signs a proclamation declaring November Military Family Month. For this year, here is the Presidential Proclamation for Military Family Month, 2016. Last year our President said:
“Since our country’s founding, brave members of our military have stood strong as one American team, ready to defend our homeland and safeguard the values for which we stand. They represent the best our Nation has to offer, and serving alongside them are proud and loving family members — heroes on the home front. Each day, they make sacrifices for their loved ones and their country. They have answered their call of duty, and as a Nation, we must answer ours and serve them as well as they have served us. During Military Family Month, we pay tribute to and thank our military families for their service to our country, and we recognize the extraordinary ways in which they give of themselves for us all.”
Military Family Resources
• Military families and relationships are diverse. Find some information on your military family’s needs at MilitaryOneSource.com.
• Operation: Military Kids is the American Legion’s Family Support Network and can help you get your youth involved with the State Child & Youth Program.
• Connecting military families to resources, programs, & special opportunities is Blue Star Families.
• The National Military Family Association is a non-profit organization focusing on issues important to military families.
• Military Kids Connect is an online community of military children that provides age-appropriate resources to support children from pre-deployment, through a parent’s or caregiver’s return.
• USA4 Military Families lets you check out the status of family and child advocacy issues and a host of other key state initiatives that serve our military community.
• Here are some areas you may need to work on to acquire the skills you need to adjust back into family life.
Contact your local MWR or Family Services Center to learn about events scheduled in your area and how to show your support to military families in November and throughout the year.
Everyone should celebrate National Military Family Appreciation Month this November. Join us on social media using the hashtag #mspotfamilylove to share your photos and stories!
Our thanks and gratitude go out to all of those who have served or are currently serving in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as to their families. We salute you and thank you for all that you do!