There are many reasons to recognize military service men and women in June: From June 11-17, we celebrated National Flag Week with National Flag Day on June 14th; Father’s Day was on June 18th; the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has its birthday on June 23rd; June 27th is dedicated to National PTSD Awareness Day; and the whole month of June is recognized as PTSD Awareness Month. Learn more about these important holidays below!

Flag Day!

The week of June 14 (June 11–17, 2017) is designated as National Flag Week. On June 14, 1777, the Stars and Stripes was adopted as the official flag of the United States.

Know how to properly fly the American Flag?

The American Flag should be properly displayed on all days when weather permits, and especially on designated flag flying days. Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset, however, the flag may be displayed at all times if illuminated during darkness. The flag may be flown at half-staff to honor a newly deceased federal or state government official by order of the U.S. President or the State Governor, respectively. On Memorial Day, the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon. Never miss an important flag flying holiday with this infographic provided by A Stars and Stripes Flag Corporation!

Father’s Day!

On June 18th, we celebrated Father’s Day. For most dads, Father’s Day is a celebration where they receive cards, gifts, and showers of admiration and thanks. But, for many serving in the Armed Forces on Father’s Day, the appreciation comes from a distance. Military fathers’ duties often overshadow their involvement with their own families. Dads who serve our country sacrifice missing birthdays and other important family events due to their devotion towards keeping our nation protected. THE PATRIOTS INITIATIVE applauds and celebrates the contributions, honor, and love for family and country of all military fathers and fathers with sons in the Armed Forces. Thank you, and a wonderful Father’s Day to you all!

Happy Birthday to the United State Coast Guard Auxiliary!

June 23rd is recognized as the birthday of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCG Aux). The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCG Aux) represents the uniformed auxiliary component of the United States Coast Guard. On June 23, 1939, Congress established the USCG Aux as the United States Coast Guard Reserve. It was re-designated the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary on February 19, 1941

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country’s seven uniformed services. Among the U.S. military branches, the USCG is a unique service. It is primarily focused on maritime, military, and multi-mission service, however, the Coast Guard has a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. During peacetime, the U.S. Coast Guard operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. President can transfer the USCG to the U.S. Department of the Navy at any time, and the U.S. Congress can do so during times of war. This has happened twice during World War I (1917), and World War II (1941).

A Month of Awareness for PTSD

Experiences in combat can lead to PTSD. To bring greater awareness to the issue of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and effective treatments, Congress named June 27th National PTSD Awareness Day in 2010. In addition, June has been designated as PTSD Awareness Month by the Senate in 2014. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the number of Veterans with PTSD varies by service era:

• 11-20 % of Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans have PTSD.
• About 12% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans have PTSD.
• 15 out of 100 Vietnam War veterans have PTSD (according to the most recent study in the late 1980s, the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS)). It is estimated that 30% of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.

The All Eagles Oscar Foundation, a provisionally accredited DIRECTORY member, raises funds to provide immediate support to combat veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, combat stress, and chronic pain, as well as other diagnosis through unique and cutting-edge treatments. The All Eagles Oscar Foundation helps our warriors, so they can rediscover their relevance, purpose and successfully reintegrate with their families and community. To learn more about the important work of the All Eagles Oscar Foundation, visit their website.

The month of June is filled with days to support our military. Take a moment to recognize the outstanding sacrifices of the members of the Armed Forces who have answered the call. You can Answer the Call by donating to THE PATRIOTS INITIATIVE.