Awareness & action
The Awareness & Action Calendar
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Campaign Opportunities
Not every observance gets a campaign built around it — these are the ones that do.
All Month
Month of the Military Child
Recognizes the children of military families and the unique challenges they face.
Awareness
All Month
National Military Appreciation Month
A month recognizing active-duty service members, veterans, and military families.
Celebration
All Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
A national month raising awareness of mental health, including the toll of service-related trauma.
Awareness
All Month
PTSD Awareness Month
A national month raising awareness of post-traumatic stress and its treatment.
Awareness
All Month
National Suicide Prevention Month
A national month focused on suicide prevention, directly on-mission for an organization built around veteran and first-responder suicide prevention.
Awareness
October 28
National First Responders Day
A particularly strong opportunity to recognize firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, and dispatch personnel.
Celebration
All Month
National Veterans and Military Families Month
A national month honoring veterans, service members, and the families who support them.
Celebration
November 11, 2026
Veterans Day
Honors all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Celebration
December 1, 2026
GivingTuesday
A global day of generosity — the date moves every year (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving), so this entry is refreshed annually.
Celebration
The Rest of the Calendar
January 9
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
A day to recognize the police officers who serve their communities.
Celebration
January 17
Persian Gulf War Anniversary
Marks the anniversary of the start of the Persian Gulf War (1991).
Remembrance
January 27
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
A global remembrance day that includes recognition of the military liberators of Nazi concentration camps.
Remembrance
February 3
Four Chaplains Day
Honors the Four Chaplains who gave their life jackets to save others aboard the sinking USAT Dorchester in 1943.
Remembrance
Week of February 14, 2026
National Salute to Veteran Patients Week
A week recognizing veterans receiving care in VA medical facilities, often marked with volunteer visits.
Celebration
February 19
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Birthday
Marks the founding of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.
Celebration
All Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Raises awareness of traumatic brain injury, a common invisible wound among combat veterans.
Awareness
All Month
National Social Work Month
Recognizes social workers, many of whom support veterans and first responders through recovery and reintegration.
Awareness
March 4
National Hug a G.I. Day
An informal day of appreciation for service members and veterans.
Celebration
March 13
K9 Veterans Day
Honors military and working dogs that have served alongside service members.
Celebration
March 25
National Medal of Honor Day
Honors recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration.
Remembrance
March 29
National Vietnam War Veterans Day
A federally recognized day honoring Vietnam War veterans and their families.
Remembrance
All Month
National Volunteer Month
Recognizes volunteers nationwide, including those who support veteran and first-responder organizations.
Celebration
April 5
Gold Star Spouses Day
Honors surviving spouses of service members who died while serving.
Remembrance
April 14
Air Force Reserve Birthday
Marks the founding of the Air Force Reserve.
Celebration
April 15 (widely observed; dates can vary)
Purple Up! Day
Communities wear purple to show support for military children — the color that represents all branches combined.
Celebration
April 19-25, 2026
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
Honors 911 dispatchers and telecommunicators, often the first and least-recognized point of contact in an emergency.
Celebration
April 23
Army Reserve Birthday
Marks the founding of the Army Reserve.
Celebration
May 1
Silver Star Service Banner Day
Honors families of service members wounded in combat, represented by the Silver Star Service Banner.
Celebration
May 4
International Firefighters' Day
An international day recognizing firefighters' service and sacrifice.
Celebration
May 8, 2026
Military Spouse Appreciation Day
Recognizes the spouses who support service members through deployments, relocations, and reintegration.
Celebration
May 10-16, 2026
National Police Week
A week honoring law enforcement officers, including those killed in the line of duty.
Awareness
May 15
Peace Officers Memorial Day
Honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Remembrance
May 16, 2026
Armed Forces Day
Honors men and women currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Celebration
May 17-23, 2026
National EMS Week
A week recognizing EMS personnel and the critical, often overlooked care they provide.
Celebration
May 25, 2026
Memorial Day
Honors service members who died while serving in the U.S. military — a day to lead with remembrance, not a fundraising pitch.
Remembrance
June 6
D-Day Anniversary
Marks the anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944.
Remembrance
June 12
Women Veterans Recognition Day
Recognizes the service and sacrifice of women veterans.
Celebration
June 14
U.S. Army Birthday and Flag Day
Marks the founding of the U.S. Army, shared with Flag Day.
Celebration
June 23
Coast Guard Auxiliary Birthday
Marks the founding of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Celebration
June 27
National PTSD Awareness Day
A dedicated day within PTSD Awareness Month highlighting treatment and support options.
Awareness
July 4
Independence Day
Marks the nation's founding and is widely observed alongside military and veteran communities.
Celebration
July 25
National Hire a Veteran Day
Encourages employers to recruit and hire veterans transitioning to civilian careers.
Awareness
July 27
Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
Marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended active fighting in the Korean War.
Remembrance
July 29
Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary
Marks the founding of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.
Celebration
August 4
U.S. Coast Guard Birthday
Marks the founding of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Celebration
August 7
Purple Heart Day
Honors service members wounded or killed in combat, represented by the Purple Heart medal.
Remembrance
August 10
Agent Orange Awareness Day
Raises awareness of the lasting health effects of Agent Orange exposure on Vietnam-era veterans.
Awareness
August 14
Navajo Code Talkers Day
Honors the Navajo Code Talkers whose unbreakable code supported U.S. operations in World War II.
Celebration
August 16
National Airborne Day
Honors the history and service of U.S. Army Airborne forces.
Celebration
August 29
Marine Corps Reserve Birthday
Marks the founding of the Marine Corps Reserve.
Celebration
All Month
National Recovery Month
Raises awareness of mental health and substance use recovery, including recovery resources for veterans and first responders.
Awareness
September 10
World Suicide Prevention Day
A global day raising awareness of suicide prevention and available support.
Awareness
September 11
Patriot Day / National Day of Service and Remembrance
Honors those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, including the first responders who answered the call.
Remembrance
September 18
U.S. Air Force Birthday
Marks the founding of the U.S. Air Force.
Celebration
September 18, 2026
National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Honors American prisoners of war and those still missing in action.
Remembrance
September 20, 2026
Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day
Honors mothers and families who have lost a child in military service.
Remembrance
September 25
National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims
A remembrance day relevant to surviving public safety families who have lost a loved one to violence.
Remembrance
October 4-10, 2026
Fire Prevention Week
A national week promoting fire safety, led by local fire departments.
Awareness
October 10
World Mental Health Day
A global day raising awareness of mental health and advocating against stigma.
Awareness
October 13
U.S. Navy Birthday
Marks the founding of the U.S. Navy.
Celebration
October 26
National Day of the Deployed
Recognizes service members currently deployed and the families supporting them at home.
Celebration
All Month
National Family Caregivers Month
Recognizes family caregivers, including those caring for wounded or ill veterans.
Awareness
November 10
U.S. Marine Corps Birthday
Marks the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Celebration
November 21, 2026
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
A remembrance day relevant to roadway first-responder safety and the families of road traffic victims.
Remembrance
December 7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Honors those killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Remembrance
December 13
U.S. National Guard Birthday
Marks the founding of the U.S. National Guard.
Celebration
December 19, 2026
National Wreaths Across America Day
A day when volunteers lay wreaths at veterans' graves to honor the fallen.
Remembrance
December 20
U.S. Space Force Birthday
Marks the founding of the U.S. Space Force.
Celebration
Know a Date We Missed?
Suggest an Observance
If there's a veteran, first-responder, military-family, or remembrance date that belongs on this calendar, let us know.