Military Spouse Appreciation Day
The Army recognizes and appreciates the positive impact spouses have on our Soldiers and the Army.
May 12 2017
May 12 2017
National Military Spouse Appreciation Day is celebrated on the Friday before Mother’s Day in May. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we celebrate military spouses contributions to keeping our country safe. America’s military spouses are the backbone of the families who support our troops during mission, deployment, reintegration and reset. They are the silent heroes who are essential to the strength of the nation and they serve our country just like their loved ones.
FACTS:
• In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared May 23 as the first Military Spouse Day in Proclamation 5184
• The U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger standardized the date by declaring the Friday before Mother's Day as Military Spouse Appreciation Day.
• In 1999, Congress officially made the observance a part of National Military Appreciation Month.
• As of FY16, the military spouse population includes:
- Army Active-Duty: 268,447
- Army National Guard: 131,790
- Army Reserve: 90,026
