May is often welcomed with sunshine, blooming flowers, and the unofficial start of summer, but for many in the military community, it holds deeper meaning. It’s Military Family Appreciation Month, a time to recognize the quiet strength of those who serve behind the scenes. May also includes Military Spouse Appreciation Day, a day dedicated to the backbone of military families. And it concludes with Memorial Day, a sacred moment of remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but never made it home.
This month is layered with different emotions: pride, sacrifice, resilience, and grief. So instead of just offering a thank-you, what if we took it a step further?
Below, you’ll find a growing list of acts of kindness. These are thoughtful ways to truly show up for our military community. Whether you’re a civilian, a fellow military family, or someone who just wants to do more, these ideas offer tangible ways to honor the service, sacrifice, and humanity behind the uniforms.
For Active Duty Military Members
They signed up to serve, but they didn’t sign up to feel invisible. Whether they’re stateside or deployed, these gestures help remind them they’re appreciated year-round, not just on holidays.
- Send a thank-you note or small care package to someone currently serving.
- Offer to help their family while they’re working long hours or TDY.
- Celebrate promotions, awards, or re-enlistments with the same enthusiasm as a civilian milestone.
- Invite them over for holidays or weekend meals, especially if they’re stationed away from family.
- Ask how they’re really doing. Then listen.
- Support their side hustles, hobbies, or small businesses if they have them.
- Learn about what their branch or role actually does, because not every military job looks the same.
For Military Spouses
Military Spouses wear many hats: caregiver, co-parent, job seeker, PCS wizard, and often solo-parent for months at a time. Here’s how to support them:
- Offer childcare or help during deployment or training seasons.
- Invite them over for dinner (even better: drop one off during a busy week).
- Send a just-because card or a coffee gift card.
- Ask about their goals, dreams, and needs, outside of their spouse’s service (they have dreams too!)
- Recognize milestones: deployment returns, promotion ceremonies, even PCS moves.
- Support their small businesses and creative work.
For Military Kids
They move, they adapt, and they often grow up quicker than their peers. A little kindness goes a long way:
- Remember their birthdays—even if you’re far away.
- Acknowledge how hard goodbyes can be, especially around PCS season.
- Help them decorate their new room after a move.
- Cheer them on at events, even if a parent is deployed.
- Give them space to share their feelings and memories.
For Deployed Service Members
Out of sight should not mean out of mind. These small gestures can mean the world to someone far from home:
- Write a letter or send a care package (include something personal, not just snacks).
- Send a photo of something familiar from back home.
- Offer support to their family while they’re away.
- Donate to or volunteer with:
- USO
- Operation Gratitude
- Operation Shoebox
- Gary Sinise Foundation
- Soldiers’ Angels
For Injured Veterans and Wounded Warriors
Recovery and readjustment can take months, or even years. Support is needed long after the homecoming:
- Offer rides to appointments or therapy sessions.
- Drop off groceries or gift cards to make life a little easier.
- Just show up: call, visit, listen.
- Donate to or volunteer with:
- Fisher House Foundation
- Mission 22
- Operation First Response
- DAV (Disabled American Veterans)
- Gary Sinise Foundation
For Military Caregivers
So many spouses, parents, and loved ones step into caregiving roles for wounded or ill veterans, often without training or resources:
- Offer to give them a break—even a few hours off helps.
- Help them organize or clean a space that’s become overwhelming.
- Listen to their story—and believe them when they say it’s hard.
- Share resources they may not know about.
- Connect them with caregiver support groups or mental health services.
For Veterans
Their service may be complete, but their story continues:
- Ask about their experiences—and listen without judgment.
- Thank them, yes, but also vote for leaders who support veteran issues.
- Offer help with job applications, resume writing, or networking.
- Support veteran-owned businesses.
- Donate to programs that help veterans transition to civilian life.
For Families of the Fallen
Memorial Day is a single day, but grief truly lasts forever. Here’s how to show up, not just on the last Monday of May, but year-round.
For Spouses of the Fallen
- Speak their loved one’s name. It matters.
- Acknowledge hard anniversaries and milestones.
- Invite them to share stories—then truly listen.
- Offer help with errands or childcare around heavy times of year.
- Send a card, flowers, or simply check in.
For Children of the Fallen
- Send a book or keepsake that helps preserve their parent’s memory.
- Help them make a memory box or scrapbook.
- Talk about their parent with warmth and pride.
- Support orgs like Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.
- Tell them it’s okay to miss them and celebrate them at the same time.
For Parents of the Fallen
- Reach out, especially on Memorial Day, birthdays, and anniversaries.
- Share memories or photos of their child—those are treasures.
- Let them cry. Let them talk. Let them grieve however they need.
- Visit their loved one’s resting place and let them know you were there.
- Walk beside them at local ceremonies or memorial events.
For Family of the Fallen (Siblings, Cousins, etc.)
- Don’t assume they’re okay just because they’re not a spouse, child, or parent of the fallen.
- Share memories, especially ones they may not have heard.
- Acknowledge that grief takes many forms.
- Include them in remembrance activities.
- Ask about their loved one. Then listen.
For Friends and Battle Buddies
- Reach out. Ask how they’re holding up.
- Share a funny or meaningful story about their friend.
- Invite them for something low-key—a walk, a meal, or just company.
- Let them know it’s okay to carry both grief and joy.
- Offer to honor their friend alongside them.
For the Community
- Visit a local war memorial or cemetery. Bring your kids. Say their names.
- Attend a Memorial Day ceremony to listen and learn—not just to show up.
- Donate to organizations supporting Gold Star families, like:
- TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
- Travis Manion Foundation
- Organizations started in honor of fallen heroes
- Use your platform to amplify their stories.
- Teach others the true meaning of Memorial Day—it’s not about sales or BBQs.
Final Thoughts
The military community is filled with resilience, but it was never meant to carry everything alone. Whether someone served, supported, or sacrificed, they deserve more than a thank-you. They deserve to be seen, supported, and remembered. So yes, send that text. Share that memory. Donate, volunteer, listen, show up.
Kindness doesn’t need a calendar, but if you’re looking for a reason, May is a pretty powerful one. Every act of kindness, whether it’s big or small, makes a difference. If you’ve experienced a meaningful gesture, know of an organization doing good work, or simply have an idea to share, we’d love to hear it.
Drop your thoughts in the comments, tag us on Instagram, or share this post with someone who might need it today. ❤️