All November, est. 1996

November is Military Family Month. Thank you to all military families for the sacrifices you make as you support our service members and our country.

Military Family Appreciation Month is a time to honor the sacrifices of military families. This month was established in 1996 by the Armed Services YMCA, with the United States government recognizing the occasion every year since. Each November, the President signs a proclamation declaring the month Military Family Month, recognizing the daily sacrifices made by military families while there are hundreds of thousands of service members deployed overseas.

While the sacrifices and hardships endured by our service members are well-documented, many people do not think about the sacrifices made and hardships endured by military families as well. Maintaining a family in the civilian world is already challenging and military families face additional, unique challenges such as having a loved one deployed for months on end, frequent moves from base to base, or dealing with long-term physical and/or emotional wounds. All of these can make the task of maintaining a family seem almost overwhelming.

To mark this occasion, American military families around the world are honored with various ceremonies and events to thank them for their commitment to our military and to our nation. Some of these events include family fun nights, community dinners, and special recognition during community activities. This November, show the military families around you some appreciation for the sacrifices they make every single day.