Military Appreciation Day
Encyclopedia
Military Appreciation Day is a formal or informal term used to describe any event intended to express appreciation for men and women currently (and sometimes formerly) in military service. A particular "Military Appreciation Day" is a date selected for convenience, typically but not necessarily approximate to Veterans Day
or Memorial Day
.
first instituted a "Military Appreciation Day" in 2007. Their 2008 commemoration coincided with November 11, and was attended by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
, General Colin Powell
, who dropped the ceremonial first puck of that game. The Islanders intend each year's "Military Appreciation Day" to be the home game closest to Veterans Day
.
The New York Jets
of the NFL's American Football Conference
have commemorated “Jets Military Appreciation Day” since 2000. Recent dates include November 19, 2006; November 4, 2007; and November 9, 2008.
– The USO Hawaii sponsored the first Military Appreciation Day at the Honolulu Zoo
in 2005. In 2008, the event was on Saturday, June 28.
Virginia
– The USO and the Virginia Zoo hosted a 2008 "MAD" on Sunday, October 5.
Washington – Near Tacoma, Washington
, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
celebrated MAD on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 with free admission for active duty military, veterans and
their families.
chain gives a free “thank you” dinner to any person who has ever served in the United States Military on its "Military Appreciation Monday". In 2008, the event was held on Monday, November 17, 2008 from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Six Flags Over Georgia
observes four branch-specific MADs, granting free admission to military personnel on September 18, 19, 25, and 26 in 2010.
National Speed, Inc. holds a yearly Military Appreciation Day event open to all branches of the military and to the public. The event is always held on Armed Forces Day and all proceeds are donated to Wounded Warrior Project
.
Currently, Military Appreciation Day hosts events in Morehead City, North Carolina, Panama City, Florida and Oak Island, North Carolina and has plans to roll out additional events across the country.
MAD hosted its first event on May 20, 2006 and since then has served over 2500 of our nations military members on fishing trips, land based activities and scenic boat tours.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark...
or Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
.
Sports Teams
The NHL's New York IslandersNew York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
first instituted a "Military Appreciation Day" in 2007. Their 2008 commemoration coincided with November 11, and was attended by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
, General Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
, who dropped the ceremonial first puck of that game. The Islanders intend each year's "Military Appreciation Day" to be the home game closest to Veterans Day
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark...
.
The New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL's American Football Conference
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
have commemorated “Jets Military Appreciation Day” since 2000. Recent dates include November 19, 2006; November 4, 2007; and November 9, 2008.
Zoos
HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
– The USO Hawaii sponsored the first Military Appreciation Day at the Honolulu Zoo
Honolulu Zoo
The Honolulu Zoo is a zoo located in Queen Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. It is the only zoo in the United States to be established by grants made by a sovereign monarch, and is built on part of the royal Queen Kapiolani Park. The Honolulu Zoo now features over 1,230 animals in...
in 2005. In 2008, the event was on Saturday, June 28.
Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
– The USO and the Virginia Zoo hosted a 2008 "MAD" on Sunday, October 5.
Washington – Near Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is a combined zoo and aquarium located in Tacoma, Washington, US, owned by Metro Parks Tacoma. Situated on in Tacoma's Point Defiance Park, the zoo and aquarium are home to over 9,000 specimens representing 367 animal species...
celebrated MAD on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 with free admission for active duty military, veterans and
their families.
Hospitality industry
The Golden CorralGolden Corral
Golden Corral is an American family-style restaurant chain that features a large buffet and grill offering numerous hot and cold items, a carving station and their Brass Bell Bakery...
chain gives a free “thank you” dinner to any person who has ever served in the United States Military on its "Military Appreciation Monday". In 2008, the event was held on Monday, November 17, 2008 from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia is a theme park located west of Atlanta, in unincorporated Cobb County. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six Flags chain, after the original opening in 1961 in Texas....
observes four branch-specific MADs, granting free admission to military personnel on September 18, 19, 25, and 26 in 2010.
National Speed, Inc. holds a yearly Military Appreciation Day event open to all branches of the military and to the public. The event is always held on Armed Forces Day and all proceeds are donated to Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project
The Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "honor and empower wounded warriors" of the United States Armed Forces...
.
External links
- MilitaryAppreciationDay.org – is a 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit organization with an all volunteer staff. The Military Appreciation Day (MAD)volunteers host large scale fishing events for members of all five service branches.
Currently, Military Appreciation Day hosts events in Morehead City, North Carolina, Panama City, Florida and Oak Island, North Carolina and has plans to roll out additional events across the country.
MAD hosted its first event on May 20, 2006 and since then has served over 2500 of our nations military members on fishing trips, land based activities and scenic boat tours.