May is Military Appreciation Month, having been designated as such in 1999, to help ensure that the country was given ample opportunity to publicly demonstrate its appreciation for the sacrifices and successes of our U.S. servicemen and women—past and present.

It actually began as a simple idea: to gather American around its military to honor, remember, recognize, pay tribute and appreciate both those who have served and those who are currently serving; and to have some understanding of the history of military service. But before long proclamations were made designating it as something more official and formal legislation was created to inform all veterans that their country had set aside the entire month of May to pay tribute to them.

Perhaps the family member you’re providing some elder care for served in the military. What a great time, especially if you’re together over Memorial Day, to talk about his or her years in the service so you can get a better understanding of what it was like back then, especially as it compares to today. The long holiday weekend might also be a good time to watch some war movies or documentaries, if he or she has a favorite.

There are other things that can be done to help celebrate Military Appreciation Month, especially if you’re going outside of the family or house.

• Perhaps there is a veterans’ museum near where you live that you could visit together.
• If there is a veterans’ home nearby, you could always go visit some veterans and thank them for their service.
• Most communities of any decent size have a military cemetery or a cemetery with a military section in it. You could visit it and look at the various markers, then discuss the different wars together.
• If there is a Memorial Day Parade or Procession in your community, plan on attending, and thanking the vets for their service.
• There are a number of restaurants around the country that offer discounts or free meals for veterans on special holidays like Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day, but you and your loved one could offer to buy a veteran a meal regardless of any special the restaurant may have going on.
• If you have children, ask your aging family member to share with them about their military service. It’s good for today’s youth to understand the sacrifices made by so many thousands of veterans throughout our nation’s history.
• And above all else, if your family member is a veteran, be sure to thank them for their service, as well. It’s important that they know you appreciate them not just as a family member, but as a vet also.

Here are some ways the government suggests you can also help celebrate National Military Month: