Military Family fromtheeditor
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May is a special month for the military. It’s chock-full of occasions to recognize people serving in the uniformed services. The entire month of May is National Military Appreciation Month. The best- known event of the month is Memo- rial Day. It’s a time to remember fallen comrades. It’s also the unoffi cial start of summer, marked by parades and other fes- tivities honoring servicemembers. May also includes Armed Forces Day,
the third Saturday of the month. It comes near the end of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday. This celebration started in 1949 — following the consolidation of the military services in DoD — to honor Americans serving in the U.S. military. The country celebrates the event with parades, open houses, re- ceptions, and air shows.
Another occasion this month is Military
Spouse Appreciation Day, which is the Fri- day before Mother’s Day. It began in 1984 when President Reagan proclaimed the ob- servance to recognize the vital role military spouses play in the nation’s defense. For MOAA, of course, every day is mili-
tary appreciation day. After all, that’s our reason for being! This issue, we carry a va- riety of stories touching on military appre- ciation. For example, “A Spouse’s Story,” page 60, focuses on military spouses’ con- tributions and the challenges they face. In this issue is another fi rst. “Down to Business” is MOAA’s fi rst career supple-
In honor of Miliary Spouse Appreciation Day, Military Offi cer asked fi ve spouses to tell their stories about overcoming the challenges that go hand in hand with marrying into the military.
ment. It includes handy facts, fi gures, and advice for veterans seeking employment. MOAA’s TOPS program long has been helping members make the transition to civilian careers. TOPS’ services include lectures, résumé critiques, career fairs, and one-on-one counseling. And con- necting support for military spouses with career transition, MOAA will hold its fi rst military spouse career fair in Virginia Beach, Va., May 12. Wrapping up this issue, we refl ect on a time when some in the country did not particularly appreciate servicemembers. On March 30, 1973, all U.S. troops with- drew from Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. This year — 28 years later — the U.S. Senate declared March 30 Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. The Senate encouraged Americans to recognize Vietnam veterans for their sac- rifi ce and to give a warm welcome to these troops who returned from war to a politi- cally divided country. It’s about time, huh? “Attitude Adjustment,” page 50, con-
trasts the vastly diff erent public perception of military serving today to that of the Viet- nam era. What was your experience? Click on Attitude at
www.moaa.org/discussion or write to MOAA, Attn: Editor, 201 N. Wash- ington St., Alexandria, Va. We’d like to hear from you!
— Col. Warren S. Lacy, USA-Ret.
*online: For details about MOAA’s military spouse career fair, visit
www.moaa.org/careerfair. 10 MILITARY OFFICER MAY 2011
PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
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