DATE
|
OBSERVANCE
|
BACKGROUND
|
| JANUARY |
| 19 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Observed |
Dr. King's birthday, January 15, 1929, was first celebrated
as a national
holiday in 1986. |
| FEBRUARY |
| 1 through 29 |
African-American History Month |
Established as Negro History Week in 1926, the observance
was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976 during America's
Bicentennial activities. |
| 4 |
USO Birthday |
Founded on February 4, 1941, the USO was a collaborative
effort of the
Salvation Army, the YMCA, the YWCA, the National Jewish Welfare
Board,
and the National Catholic Community Service to provide recreation
for on-leave members of the U.S. armed forces and their families.
|
| MARCH |
| 1 through 31 |
Women's History Month |
The observance, begun in 1981 as National Women's History
Week, was
expanded to a month-long celebration in 1987. |
| APRIL |
| 18-24 |
National Library Week |
First observed in 1958, this national event is sponsored
by the American
Library Association and libraries across the country to celebrate
the contributions of our nations libraries and librarians
to promote library use and support. |
| MAY |
| 1 through 31 |
National Military Appreciation Month |
Designated by Congress in 1999, the month is set aside to
honor our military and acknowledge its history. |
| 1 through 31 |
Asian-American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month |
At the direction of the U.S. Congress, the first Asian American/Pacific
Islander Heritage Week was observed in May 1979, and was expanded
to a month-long celebration in 1990. |
| 7 |
Military Spouse Day |
A day to honor military spouses for the support they give
to their own and to other military families, to honor their
contributions to their communities, and to acknowledge the
sacrifices they make in support of their country. It was
first observed in 1984. |
| 8 |
V-E Day |
The anniversary of the German unconditional surrender in
1945, ending World War II in Europe. |
| 9 |
Mother's Day |
First observed in 1908, Mother's Day was designated a national
holiday by
President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. |
| 9-15 |
National Nursing Home Week |
An annual event since 1967, the observance was created to
focus attention on America's elderly population as well as
the contributions of their caregivers. |
| 15 |
Armed Forces Day |
In existence since 1947, this is a day of combined celebration
and honor for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. |
| 22 |
National Maritime Day |
The U.S. Congress approved in 1933 this annual day of tribute
to the U.S. Merchant Marine. |
| 24 |
The Day of Honor |
Established by joint resolution of the U.S. Senate and House
of Representatives on May 23, 2000, the date is designated
to honor the service of African-Americans, Native Americans,
Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans in World War II. |
| 27-30 |
World War II Reunion, Washington, D.C. |
One of the events coinciding with the dedication of the
World War II Memorial will be the "Tribute to a Generation:
National World War II Reunion," produced by the Smithsonian
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, in partnership
with the American Battle Monuments Commission, on the National
Mall in Washington, D.C. |
| 29 |
World War II Memorial Dedication, Washington, D.C. |
The Memorial will be dedicated in Washington, D.C. in
a formal ceremony on the National Mall. The purpose of the
Memorial is "to honor all military veterans of the war, the
citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the
high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation's
call to arms." |
| 31 |
Memorial Day, Observed |
Originally titled Decoration Day, this annual observance
dates back to May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the
graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National
Cemetery by the Grand Army of the Republic. |
| JUNE |
| 6 |
D-Day Anniversary |
The anniversary of the World War II Allied invasion of Europe,
1944. |
| 14 |
Flag Day |
The anniversary of the 1777 adoption by the Continental
Congress of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of
the United States. |
| 14 |
U.S. Army Birthday |
The service was established on this date in 1775. |
| 14-7/4 |
Honor America Days |
The U.S. Congress dedicated this period as "21 Days
to Honor America" with the intent that Americans will
observe it with public gatherings and activities that salute
our nation and our freedom. |
| 20 |
Father's Day |
First observed in Washington state in 1910, the day of tribute
to fathers was declared a national holiday by President Calvin
Coolidge in 1924. |
| JULY |
| 1 through 4 |
Honor America Days |
The U.S. Congress dedicated this period as "21 Days to
Honor America" with the intent that Americans will observe
it with public gatherings and activities that salute our nation
and our freedom. |
| 2 |
U.S. Army Air Corps Birthday |
The Air Corps became the aviation branch of the U.S. Army
in 1926. |
| 4 |
Independence Day |
The anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
on July 4, 1776. |
| 27 |
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day |
The anniversary of the 1953 signing of the armistice that
ended the three-year Korean War. |
| AUGUST |
| 4 |
U.S. Coast Guard Birthday |
The forerunner of the service, the Revenue Cutter Service,
was established on this date in 1790. |
| 7 |
Purple Heart Day |
A day to remember and recognize Purple Heart recipients--members
of the Armed services who have been wounded or killed, died
as a result of a wound in battle, or otherwise designated
by the President of the United States. Gen. George Washington
first awarded this medal on August 7, 1782, as the Badge of
Military Merit. |
| 14 |
V-J Day |
Anniversary of the 1945 informal surrender of Japan, effectively
ending World War II. |
| SEPTEMBER |
| 12 |
Grandparents Day |
First proclaimed a national observance by President Jimmy
Carter in 1978, Grandparents Day is celebrated each year on
the first Sunday after Labor Day. |
| 15 through 10/15 |
National Hispanic Heritage Month |
Created as National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, the
observance was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988. |
| 17 |
U.S. Constitution Day (Citizenship Day) |
Also known as Citizenship Day, the date is the anniversary
of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, and is often
observed by recognizing those who, by coming of age or by
naturalization, have become U.S. citizens. |
| 17 |
National POW/MIA Recognition Day |
The date is observed to honor America's POW/MIAs who have
returned or are missing and unaccounted for from our nation's
wars. |
| 18 |
U.S. Air Force Birthday |
The Air Force was established as a separate armed service
on this date in 1947 by President Harry Truman. |
| 26 |
Gold Star Mothers' Day |
Established by Presidential proclamation in 1936, the day
is observed in tribute to American mothers of sons or daughters
who died in service to their country. |
| OCTOBER |
| 1 through 15 |
Hispanic Heritage Month |
Created as National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, the
observance was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988. |
| 13 |
U.S. Navy Birthday |
The Continental Navy was established on October 13, 1775.
Since 1972, this anniversary is observed as an internal activity
for members of the active forces and reserves, as well as
retirees and dependents in order to enhance a greater appreciation
of Navy heritage. |
| 27 |
Navy Day |
First observed in 1922, Navy Day is sponsored by the Navy
League to give recognition to the naval service. |
| 27 |
Veterans History Project Anniversary |
The U.S. Congress voted unanimously for legislation to create
the Veterans History Project on October 27, 2000, through
Public Law 106-380. |
| NOVEMBER |
| 1 through 30 |
National American Indian Heritage Month |
Created as National American Indian Heritage Week in 1986,
the observance was extend to a month-long celebration in 1990. |
| 10 |
U.S. Marine Corps Birthday |
The service was established as the Continental Marines by
the Continental Congress on this date in 1775. |
| 11 |
Veterans Day |
This observance, originally known as Armistice Day, became
a national holiday in 1938 to commemorate the anniversary
of the end of World War I. Renamed Veterans Day in 1954, it
now honors the service and sacrifices of all U.S. veterans. |
| 11 |
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Anniversary, Observed |
Dedicated on November 13, 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
serves as a testament to the sacrifice of American military
personnel in support of the Vietnam War. |
| 25 |
Thanksgiving |
The first suggestion of a national thanksgiving celebration
was proposed by President George Washington. Following the
Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proposed in 1863 a national
day of thanksgiving and healing on the last Thursday in November.
In 1939, the date of the annual observance was changed to
the 4th Thursday in the month by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. |
| DECEMBER |
| 7 |
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day |
Anniversary of the December 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor. |
| 13 |
National Guard Birthday |
The service was established on this date in 1636 in the
Massachusetts
Bay Colony. |
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