- Military Family Appreciation Month was established in 1993 by the Armed Services YMCA and is marked every November with a presidential proclamation.
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- Military families move every two to three years on average, and kids can change schools six to nine times before graduating, more than three times the civilian rate.
- Active-duty military spouses face an unemployment rate of 8.83%, nearly four times the 2.48% rate for civilian spouses.
- VFW National Home supports military and veteran families year-round through both an on-campus program in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, and nationwide support services.
- There are 8 concrete ways to show appreciation this November, from donating and volunteering to attending a local event.
This guide covers what Military Family Appreciation Month is, the challenges military families face, and 8 simple ways to show support. It also covers how VFW National Home helps year-round, and other military observances worth knowing about throughout the year.
November is Military Family Appreciation Month – a time to recognize the families who support their loved ones through the demands of military life. Learn how the celebration came to be, why it’s important, and how you can show your support and get involved this year.
Here’s what we’ll discuss:
- What is Military Family Appreciation Month?
- Why is Military Family Appreciation Month important?
- How is Military Family Appreciation Month observed?
- Other military family observances to know about
- 8 ways to celebrate Military Family Appreciation Month
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Military and veteran families face unique challenges, from frequent moves to long separations to rebuilding after service. Since 1925, the VFW National Home has supported the whole family through our on-campus and nationwide programs.
Your donation helps these families achieve long-term stability.
Donate OnlineWhat is Military Family Appreciation Month?
Military Family Appreciation Month falls every November. It began when the Armed Services YMCA established the observance in 1993, and the federal government has recognized it annually ever since, with the president signing an annual proclamation each year.
Military Family Appreciation Month aims to:
- Recognize that military service extends beyond the service member to the entire household
- Publicly acknowledge the sacrifices military families make, such as deployments, frequent relocations, and a spouse managing the household solo during time apart
- Reinforce that the country’s commitment to service members includes a commitment to their families
- Help turn appreciation into something tangible, such as making a donation, volunteering at veteran-focused organizations, or supporting local military families.
Why is Military Family Appreciation Month important?
When someone serves in the military, their family adjusts, too. That can mean moving to a new place, changing jobs, or spending long periods apart. Here’s what that can look like.
Frequent moves disrupt kids’ schooling and friendships
Military families move every two to three years, and kids often change schools six to nine times before graduating, more than three times the civilian rate. Every move means new teachers, new friends, and starting over.
Career building is hard when the family moves often
Frequent relocations make it tough to hold a job long enough to grow into it, especially when licenses don’t transfer across state lines. Active-duty military spouses face an unemployment rate nearly four times higher than civilian spouses, 8.83% versus 2.48%.
Deployments leave one parent managing everything alone
Deployments can keep a service member away for a month or longer. The military’s own Family Separation Allowance kicks in once that separation passes 30 days, formal recognition of what that time apart asks of the family left at home.
These sacrifices don’t get the same recognition
Military families handle all of this quietly, without much public notice. Military Family Appreciation Month exists to change that, and to say the household’s sacrifice counts too.
How is Military Family Appreciation Month observed?
Observance looks different depending on where you are, but it generally includes:
- A presidential proclamation each November, formally designating the month
- Installation events, like family fun nights, discounted rates at Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities, and other recognitions coordinated through community activities
- Business discounts for veterans, service members, and their families, offered by businesses around the country
How VFW National Home celebrates military families, veterans, and service members
VFW National Home treats this recognition as a year-round practice rather than just a November observance. Case managers work with families on campus toward long-term goals, and recent events like Ohio and Michigan State Days show how much support the broader VFW community turns out to provide.
We also run peer programs like Guitars for Vets and Heroes to Hives, giving veterans and their families ongoing ways to connect and build community together.
Other military family observances to know about
Military Family Appreciation Month is one of several moments throughout the year set aside to recognize different parts of the military community. Here’s a quick guide to the others, several of which we’ve covered in more depth.
- Military Appreciation Month (May): A separate, congressionally designated month honoring both active-duty service members and veterans, packed with its own observances like Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day.
- Military Spouse Appreciation Day (the Friday before Mother’s Day in May): Recognizes military spouses specifically, including a look at the resilience that role requires.
- Month of the Military Child (April): Focused on military kids and what they carry through frequent moves and a parent’s service.
- Military Father’s Day (June): Honors military dads specifically, both for their service and their role at home.
- Veterans Day (observed every November 11): Honors veterans directly for their own service, distinct from the family-focused observances above.
Together, these observances cover the full military family, the service member, the spouse, the kids, and the household as a whole, at different points throughout the year.
Get the latest on how VFW National Home supports military families year-round, delivered straight to your inbox.
8 ways to celebrate Military Family Appreciation Month
Appreciation means more when it turns into action. Here are a few ways to do that, whether you have thirty seconds or an ongoing commitment to give.
Donate to organizations that support military families
A financial gift is one of the most direct ways to help. Explore ways to give to organizations like the VFW National Home, which use donations to fund case management, education support, and stable housing for families working toward long-term independence.
Volunteer your time
Many organizations that serve military families rely heavily on volunteers, which could include mentoring, event support, or skilled labor on a campus like Eaton Rapids. Volunteering directly puts your time where your appreciation is!
Learn about the programs that serve military families
Learning about what’s available is important, both so you can support it, and so you can point a military family toward it if they need it. VFW National Home is one example of an organization doing this work. These are our main programs:
- Our On-Campus Residence program provides eligible military and veteran families with children no-cost housing in one of 43 single-family homes on its Eaton Rapids, Michigan campus, along with free case management, free accredited daycare and school-age programs, and education and job training support. The program follows a phased, goal-oriented model, and most families complete it in three to five years, ready to stand on their own with the stability and skills they’ve built.
- Our Nationwide Support services are open to veteran and military families anywhere in the country, whether or not they qualify for on-campus housing. That includes guidance on case-specific steps, referrals to trusted resources, emotional support and advocacy, and help understanding and accessing VA benefits.
Attend a community event
Many installations and local organizations host events throughout November, and VFW National Home hosts its own as well, from campus gatherings to fundraising events like its annual Charity Golf Outing. These are open to the public, not just residents, so anyone can take part or show support! Check what’s happening near you, or see what’s on the calendar at VFW National Home specifically.
Support a peer program
Programs built specifically for veterans and their families create ongoing community, not just a one-time gesture. At VFW National Home, Guitars for Vets offers free music lessons, and Heroes to Hives teaches beekeeping as a way to build connection and purpose. Both are open to veterans in the surrounding community, not just campus residents.
Honor a family with a lasting tribute
Some gestures are meant to outlast the month. A Tribute Brick is a personalized, engraved 4″ x 8″ brick placed permanently in the walkways in front of the community center, health and education building, museum, or WWII monument on the VFW National Home campus.
It’s a way to put a name (a veteran, a family, an organization, anyone you want to honor) somewhere it will be seen for years, beyond the Military Family Appreciation Month. Every purchase also directly supports the campus these families live and work toward stability on, so the tribute itself becomes part of what keeps the mission going.
Follow and share military family stories
Statistics can show how many military families are affected, but personal stories show what those experiences look like day to day. Reading about a deployment, a move, or starting over in a new place can help put those experiences into perspective.
VFW National Home’s staff have seen the value of sharing these stories firsthand. As one staff member put it, “When you share your journey, you not only highlight the support you have received but also inspire others seeking the same vital assistance.” Read stories from military families and share them with others who may benefit from hearing them.
Show everyday appreciation
Supporting military families doesn’t have to mean making a big gesture. Small, practical things can make daily life easier, especially during a deployment or after a move.
Here are a few ways to help:
- Bring a meal during a deployment or soon after a move, when unpacking and settling in can make cooking harder.
- Offer a specific favor. Volunteer to watch the kids, pick up groceries, or help with another task that needs to be done.
- Check in during the harder stretches. That might be the middle of a deployment, the first week at a new school, or when a family gets new orders.
- Ask how the whole family is doing. Give them a chance to talk about what they’re managing at home.
Pay attention to what a family might need, then offer something useful. And while November is a good time to recognize military families, these kinds of support can happen any time of year.
Give support that goes beyond November
This November, you can do more than recognize military families. Your donation can help provide the housing, childcare, education, and family support they need throughout the year.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
When is Military Family Appreciation Month?
Military Family Appreciation Month is observed every November in the United States, marked each year by a presidential proclamation.
Who started Military Family Appreciation Month?
The Armed Services YMCA established Military Family Appreciation Month in 1993, and the federal government has recognized it annually since.
How can I support military families?
You can donate to organizations that serve military families, volunteer your time, learn about the programs available to them, or show everyday appreciation through simple gestures like a note or attending a local event.
Is Military Family Appreciation Month the same as Veterans Day?
No. Veterans Day, observed November 11, honors veterans specifically for their own service. Military Family Appreciation Month, observed throughout November, honors the entire family that supports a service member.
What does VFW National Home do for military families?
VFW National Home supports military and veteran families both on its campus in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, through a phased program addressing housing, education, and career stability, and nationwide through benefits guidance, referrals, and peer support programs.
