Hello Everyone,
My name is Christopher Mayes and I am an emerging GIS young professional who has just started His geospatial journey at Esri as a Support Analyst.
You may notice this blog is not directly tied to GIS. While the content itself is not directly related to GIS, I do believe it is incredibly important to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by our service men and women and their families, as the outcomes of this reflection can extend into other areas of our lives and positively impact not only ourselves but those around us as well.
I truly believe the impact of this reflection allows us to appreciate what others have done for us, as well as what we can do for others. It can also serve as a reminder of the impact our work has on a local and/or global scale, and can help us remember that we have been given this opportunity to bring our best selves to the work we love to do each and every day. This can have a profound effect on our communities and those we serve.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I encourage anyone who is comfortable with it, to share this with your communities and to post about and discuss the service men and women in your lives (past, present, and future) that have made a positive impact in your lives. I would love to read about them and understand the history behind their service and I am sure others would as well.
The month of May is recognized nationally for many things such as mental health awareness. Among the many recognitions is National Military appreciation.
I wanted to take a moment to briefly cover the history behind this designation as well as the importance and significance of such a designation.
A Brief History
National military appreciation month was initially recognized by a resolution in the U.S Senate in 1999. This month long observance was proposed by senator John McCain on February 9th,1999.
May was chosen due to the high number of significant military related observances to include:
- Loyalty Day (May 1) – Initiated by the veterans of foreign wars in 1947 to reaffirm loyalty to the United States.
- Victory in Europe day (VE day) (May 8 ) – On May 8th, 1945, this day marked the end of World War II upon Germanys surrender.
- Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 😎 – Celebrated annually on the Friday before Mother’s Day. Honors the sacrifices and contributions of military spouses.
- Children of Fallen Patriots Day (May 13) – Honors children who have lost a parent in the line of military duty.
- Armed Forces Day (May 16) – Honors active-duty Americans serving in any of the 6 military branches.
- Memorial Day (May 25) – Held on the last Monday of May, this is the nations annual day to mourn and honor deceased service men and women.
While every day holds an opportunity to honor and remember those who have given their highest measure in service to this great nation, there are many reasons why the Month of May receives this special designation.
Significance
So why does this matter and why should we take the time to pause, remember, and reflect on the great sacrifices of those who have gone before us, who are currently serving us, or those who will answer the call in our future?
The straightforward and simple answer is it is important. They gave up everything for love of country and for love of their fellow man and woman. They didn’t do it for any selfish reasons; they did it sacrificially and selflessly.
By remembering their names and by taking a second to reflect on the enormous sacrifices of the service men and women of this country and their families; we acknowledge, honor, and respect what they have given to each one of us. We have each been given the opportunity to chase our dreams, whatever those dreams may be.
The Challenge
My challenge for those of you reading this is to take a couple of minutes either directly after reading this or at some point during your day to remember those in your life that have raised their right hand and pledged to support and defend this great nation from enemies, foreign and domestic. Say their names either in your head or out loud and thank them for their service. It can serve as a newfound appreciation for the opportunities afforded by those who have given everything to us, and for us.
If you took the time to read this, Thank you.
I hope reading this has given you the opportunity to remember those in your life that have served in the military in any capacity and I encourage those of you who feel compelled to do so; Reach out to any active duty or military reservists in your life and send a simple thank you. Let them know you are aware and appreciative of what they have done, and what they continue to do for you and for all citizens of the United States of America.
GIS Resources for Veterans and Service members
Esri Training for Veterans - A blog talking about 9 ways to advance your GIS journey as a veteran or service member.
From Service to Solutions: A Veterans Journey into GIS - A great Blog by Isaac Smith discussing His personal journey from military service to the GIS Industry.
Webinar Recording: GIS Career Insights from Veterans
About The Author
My name is Christopher Mayes and I am a Support Analyst at Esri in Support Services and a United States Marine Corps Veteran who is passionate about GIS, Military History and Veteran Affairs. You can connect with me on LinkedIn and feel free to comment below.
