Honoring the unsung heroes of the military-Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and while families everywhere gear up to honor the important and vital role moms provide, there is another holiday set right before Mother’s Day which is just as important to the men and women of our Armed Forces-Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

Set the Friday before Mother's Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day is a day set aside for military and civilians alike to pause and recognize the significant contributions, support, and sacrifices that military spouses who have the greatest impact on the military men and women, families, and communities. This year, it will be held on May 10.

Along with the tremendous strength and patriotism they have, military spouses must endure frequent change and unexpected developments in their lives, be ‘battle ready’ as they prepare for many unknowns during military life, often unable to make a plan for more than a few days in advance.

This special day was first recognized by President Ronald Reagan on May 23, 1984, declaring the first Military Spouse Day with Proclamation 5184, dated April 17, 1984. He recognized the profound importance of spouse commitment to the readiness and well-being of military members. The US Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, went further, standardizing the date by declaring the Friday preceding Mother’s Day as Military Spouse Day. Each year, the United States President regularly commemorates this day with a formal speech and proclamation, while celebrations are held on and near U.S. military bases around the world.

Military spouses must hold down the home front during sometime frequent and sometimes lengthy deployments, training, and countless other circumstances while their husband or wife serve the country, often spending many months apart during stressful times with limited communication.

Oftentimes, depending on how long the military member serves, spouse have to oversee national and international moves. But they bear these responsibilities by caring for and relying on family. With every move, they find a new job, help their children adjust to new schools and friends, and learn about a new community and its culture. It is through this kind of support that our military is stronger and more prepared.

May is also host to a series of other military holidays, including Military Appreciation Month, established in 1999; Victory in Europe (VE) Day, commemorating the end of WWII in Europe on May 8, 1945; and Armed Forces Day, designated in 1949. Memorial Day, the only official federal holiday in May, is celebrated the last Monday of the month.