Our government — sometimes along with other nations — the states, various groups and organizations, etc. designate months of the year as commemorative months to raise awareness about health, social and other important issues or to commemorate or celebrate significant events.
To raise awareness about health issues, for example, we have: American Heart Month (February), Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month (May), Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month (August), Leukemia, Lymphoma And Myeloma Awareness Month (September), National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), Lung Cancer Awareness Month ( November), AIDS Awareness Month (December). There are many more such months, weeks and days.
We have months to commemorate significant historical events or issues such as Black History ( February), National Women’s History ( March), Gay and Lesbian History (October), Aviation History ( November). There is also Confederate History Month in April but only in the Southern United States.
There are months during which we can reflect on our heritage: Irish-American Heritage ( March), Asian Pacific-American Heritage, Haitian Heritage, Jewish American Heritage (all in May),National Black Family Month ( July), Hispanic Heritage Month (starting Sept. 15), German-American Heritage Month (October, of course) and National American Indian Heritage Month (November).
Do you have a sweet tooth? Well, you have the whole month of June to indulge it, during National Candy Month. If one month is not sufficient, July is National Ice Cream Month, September is National Honey Month and November Banana Pudding Lovers Month — enjoy them all!
We have months to recognize and appreciate certain people and professions, such as: National Inventors in August, Photographers in October, National Family Caregivers and Social Workers in November. Alas, I can only find a week to appreciate our teachers, the first week in May; one whole week — the fourth week in June — to appreciate our plumbing, heating and cooling professionals, but only one day, January 17, for Customer Service. Oh well…
There is one appreciation month which readers just must not forget: September is Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month — they/we need much kindness.
Some month designations are, in my opinion, for very good causes: National Poverty in America Awareness (January), Sexual Assault Awareness ( April), Domestic Violence Awareness, Bullying Prevention and Diversity Awareness, all in October, National Adoption Month (November) and Universal Human Rights Month (December).
Other calendar designations, in my opinion, are silly at best, weird at worst.
Take National Trivia Day (January 4), National Umbrella Month (March), Political Correctness Awareness Month in December and some really weird ones — fortunately just one day of the year and most of them international: Orgasm Day (Solstice June), International Day of No Prostitution on Oct. 5 (How about the other 364 days of the year?) and World Toilet Day (November 19). Would you believe, there is even a Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month (February).
There are a few appreciation months for art and music lovers. I found National Poetry and Jazz Appreciation Month in April, Art Appreciation Month in August and Arts and Humanities Month in October.
Book lover? Get ‘Caught Reading’ in May. National Book Month is October, December is Read a New Book Month. However, if you get caught hoarding those public library books at home and your conscience did not tug at you during National Ethics Awareness Month (March), relax, you can hold on to them for almost another year until Return the Borrowed Books Week, the first week in March (2015). (Disclaimer: Do not take this as official TMV advice.)
For sports and fitness fans we have National Athletic Training Month in March. But May seems to be your month with National Physical Fitness and Sports, National Athletic Training and National Bike Month.
Since I am an animal lover, I particularly like National Pet and Be Kind to Animals weeks (both in May), National Guide Dog, Happy Cat and Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month in September. October is Squirrel Awareness and Appreciation Month and there is even a Pig Day on March 1. The third week in June is Carpenter Ant Awareness Week — but I doubt if such “awareness” leads to good things for the carpenter ants.
Are you down in the dumps? Cheer up, April is National Humor Month. If that doesn’t do it, perhaps Tickling Month in July or Happiness Happens Month in August will do the trick.
Not getting things done? Perhaps once you get past Procrastination Awareness Month (April) and past the next month which is Meditation Month, you can Rebuild Your Life in June and Plant the Seeds of Greatness next February.
Don’t see your month? One of these may fit you: Men’s Month (June), National Women’s Month (August). May is Senior Citizens Month and February is Spunky Old Broads Month.
But all lightheartedness aside, the months I like best are those devoted to raising awareness about issues affecting children.
Fortunately we have many of them. Here are just a few:
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month – April
• Heal the Children Month – May
• Children’s Awareness Month – June
• National Make a Difference to Children Month – July
• Child Support Awareness Month – August
There are several other months, weeks and days dedicated specifically to children’s health issues.
The military has designated the month of April as the Month of the Military Child.
I have frequently posted what I consider to be the most precious photographs: The images of young military children being reunited with a father or a mother who has been serving our country away from home — often in a combat zone and in harm’s way.
An Army soldier embraces his daughter while being recognized at a welcome home ceremony on Fort Campbell Army Airfield, March 1, 2013, when he returned from a deployment to Afghanistan. Photo DOD
That is one sweet-bitter aspect of the life of a young military child.
Then there is what has to be the unbearable grief a young military child suffers when his or her father or mother returns with a combat injury or illness, or does not return home at all.
Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to the audience as Lizzy Yaggy, surviving daughter of Marine Corps Maj. David Laurence Yaggy, stands next to him during the 2014 Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Honor Guard Gala at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., March 27, 2014. (Photo DOD)
The Department of Defense tells us that there are approximately 1.8 million children, including babies, toddlers, school-aged children, teens and young adults, with one or more parent serving in the armed forces.
These children experience not only parental separation, they also endure frequent “relocations” that disrupt their education and social relationships on top of many other military-life-unique problems these children face.
There are numerous programs and services provided by the military to help reduce the distress that military children experience and to promote military children’s health and development.
One facet of this effort is the designation of April as the Month of the Military Child “to celebrate and recognize the contributions, courage and resilience of the youngest members of the military community…and to recognize the nation’s responsibility and commitment to providing strong networks of support for military families.”
Read here how the military takes care of its most precious and most vulnerable members.
Lead photo: Service member and child – Courtesy Warrior Care Blog
Sources:
https://www.mhprofessional.com/templates/chases/special-months.php
https://www.mhprofessional.com/templates/chases/special-months.php
http://www.awarenessdepot.com/awarenesscalendar.html
