Honoring the Nation’s Bravest and Best During Military Appreciation Month
May is National Military Appreciation Month, and it’s the perfect time to reach out and share thoughts of gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our country’s military members. Arguably the bravest and most highly trained in the world, the U.S. military is charged with defending our country and its interests, both at home and abroad. They make sacrifices and take risks that most of us could never dream of, and that’s why they deserve all the recognition and thankfulness we have to offer—throughout Military Month and every day of the year.
At Hallmark Business Connections, we know you’re busy, and that’s why we’ve made it our job to help you connect and build relationships with both your teams and your clients and customers. There is a lot you can do to show Military Month appreciation to both clients and employees who serve in different branches of the military, so keep reading for great Military Appreciation Month ideas and ways you can share heartfelt gratitude with those who defend our freedom every day.
Military Appreciation Month … and So Much More
Military Appreciation Month, sometimes referred to as Veterans Month or Veteran Appreciation Month, includes a variety of observances to honor members of the military who have served in a variety of capacities. Below are a few you may recognize or want to be aware of:
Loyalty Day, which is on May 1, kicks off this special month and is set aside as a time of rededication of loyalty to our country and proud American heritage.
Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) is celebrated the first full week of May and is dedicated to those who serve the country as federal, state, county and local government employees.
Victory in Europe Day (or VE Day) is on May 8 and is remembered as the day the Germans surrendered unconditionally throughout Europe, marking the end of WWII in Europe.
Military Spouse Appreciation Day is on May 10 every year. Military spouses give up time and risk a lot when they send their significant other off to train for months, send them overseas or even send them to the front lines. They are recognized every year for the sacrifices they make and for the key roles they play in supporting their spouses who serve.
Armed Forces Day is on May 18, 2024, and is celebrated on the third Saturday of May each year. Intended as a day to gather and thank our military service members, events are for everyone serving in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and Space Force. There is also an Armed Forces Week which usually precedes Armed Forces Day, but it is unofficial and not a recognized observation.
Memorial Day is perhaps the most recognized of the military observances and falls on the last Monday in May. This year, Memorial Day is May 27. Memorial Day was created to commemorate men and women who died while in military service, and Americans across the country are encouraged to pause for a moment of silence at 3:00 p.m. to honor the fallen.
Give Your Veterans and Service Members Something to Talk About
A little recognition goes a long way, and if your job requires you to sacrifice time with family, put yourself in harm’s way and give up many of the things you are accustomed to, it is especially important to know there are people who are grateful for your sacrifice. That’s why Military Appreciation Month is the perfect time for you to reach out to your employees and clients who are part of the military to let them know how grateful you are for them and for all they do for the country!
If you are looking for meaningful ways to reach out to your clients and customers who are veterans or active-duty service members, take a look at the ideas Hallmark Business Connections has for you to share your gratitude and build connections that last throughout Military Appreciation Month and the entire year:
Deliver a big “thank you” in an envelope. Heartfelt words of gratitude, especially when written in a carefully selected greeting card, can make a huge impression and leave a lasting memory. At Hallmark Business Connections, you’ll find a selection of military appreciation cards and thank-you veteran cards that convey uplifting messages for service members and veterans. Personalize a few or many with your own words of gratitude and share with customers and employees to kick off Military Appreciation Month. When you send military thank-you cards, you are letting your team and your clients know how much you value them. For even more personalization, and to send to a single recipient, try our Mail to One service that allows you to select a greeting card, personalize your message—then, we’ll stamp and mail it for you.
Organize a card-sending party. There are many veterans and military members who are in hospitals and retirement homes throughout the country, and many of them do not have regular visitors or even family to check in on them. A few words of encouragement, a greeting card with the American flag on the front and a reminder of your gratitude for their service can mean so much for those who don’t have that much contact with outside visitors. Check with your local VA hospital and retirement homes to organize a quick visit to drop off “thank you for your service” cards for military members at their facility. It’ll be a feel-good moment for you, your team and for the service members who receive your words of encouragement and gratitude.
Get patriotic. If you’re in the office, go patriotic with your decor, and if you’re remote, you can participate by doing something as easy as changing your Zoom background to a red, white and blue motif. Encourage different departments to decorate bulletin boards and common areas with patriotic backgrounds, bunting, streamers and photos of employees who are service members. You can even leave a stack of blank cards and markers for employees to leave their own words of gratitude to add to a community bulletin board.
Update your website and social media. Military Appreciation Month is a great time to get a little creative with your website and stretch your social media muscles. Think about changing your home page to a patriotic theme and be sure to honor active-duty military and veterans across all your social media channels. The more ways you reach out and work to connect with clients and employees, the better and stronger your relationships will be.
Give a token of your appreciation. A small gift is something customers and employees will remember for quite some time. Visit Hallmark Business Connections to find military appreciation gifts that are meaningful, heartwarming … and delicious! From fresh cut floral bouquets to decadent artisanal chocolates by Christopher Elbow, you’re sure to find the perfect gift of appreciation to remind service members how much they are appreciated.
National Military Appreciation Month is a great time to thank your employees and your customers for their service to our country. It doesn’t take a lot of time or even a huge budget to show how much you care about their contributions, so get creative and plan ahead in order to make this the best Military Month yet. Don’t know what to write in your Military Appreciation cards? Our very own Hallmark writers can help! Read 30 Card Messages to Use for Patriotic Holiday Cards to get tons of great ideas.