Brenda Lyle – Florida Today
Q: How can I show my appreciation during Military Appreciation Month?
A: May is Military Appreciation Month, a time set aside to honor and recognize the contributions, sacrifices, and service of the members of the United States armed forces – those who served in the past and those who currently wear the nation’s uniform. I am happy to say that I was a proud military wife for 21 years.
Military service demands physical endurance, mental toughness, and emotional fortitude. 
From the moment of enlistment, service members and their families face a world of uncertainty, training rigorously for challenges civilians never encounter. They face extended separations from loved ones. Some are motivated by family tradition; some are searching for purpose. They all vow to protect America.
The sacrifices of military personnel extend far beyond the battlefield. Spouses raise children alone during deployments, parents anxiously follow news reports, and communities rally to support those left behind. Yet, the heaviest burdens fall on service members themselves. Some return with visible scars—physical injuries that alter their lives. Others carry invisible wounds, such as post-traumatic stress, that linger long after their service ends. Tragically, some never return. Each sacrifice, whether seen or unseen, underscores the depth of their commitment.
WeAreTheMighty.com suggests 10 ways in which the public can express their gratitude to past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces during Military Appreciation Month.
- Wear your pride – don patriotic and military themed shirts
- Donate to a military charity – research on charitynavigator.org or www.guidestar.org
- Fly the flag – find flag etiquette at NationalFlagFoundation.org
- Buy a military member a drink, coffee or meal – acts of kindness are appreciated
- Take to social media – post a message of appreciation
- Send a note or card – for members of any service branch supportourtroops.org
- Send a care package – operationgratitude.com
- Visit a military cemetery or memorial – pay your respects
- Support military-owned businesses – and recommend them to others
- Say thank you — two words that mean more than you realize
In 1999, Congress voted unanimously to designate May as National Military Appreciation Month, after Senator John McCain of Arizona proposed the month-long observance. May was selected, as military-related VE Day, Memorial Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Armed Forces Day are already observed in that month.
This May, take time to honor the service and sacrifice of members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Space Force and National Guard– as well as the contributions of their spouses and families. During Military Appreciation Month let’s remember that military personnel don’t seek praise; they ask only that their service has meaning.
Brenda Lyle is a Certified Care Manager and Certified Dementia Practitioner with One Senior Place, Greater Orlando. One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families. Submit your questions to AskOSP@OneSeniorPlace.com. For immediate help, call 321-751-6771 or visit One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging.
