Day of the Deployed is a day to honor our deployed troops and their families for the bravery and sacrifice they are making for our country. Supporters of the military are urged to get personally involved in activities that send care packages, offer messages of encouragement, and other morale-boosting activities to those currently deployed overseas and the military families of the deployed.
Day of the Deployed will be observed on Monday, October 26, 2020.
History of Day Of The Deployed
In 2006, then-governor of North Dakota John Hoeven was approached by a constituent, Shelle Michaels Aberle, to have a day that honored the deployed. The inspiration was her cousin, LTC David Hosna, who at the time was deployed to Iraq. Former Govenor John Hoeven initiated a move for a State of North Dakota proclamation that October 26th, David Hosna’s birthday, would be recognized as Day Of The Deployed. Following that state recognition, the first-ever Day Of The Deployed event was held in Grand Forks, North Dakota, (the home of Grand Forks Air Force Base) honoring local units deployed to Afghanistan.
Only four years went by before most states had some form of recognition of the holiday. While Day Of The Deployed is not treated like a state holiday with facility closures and time off from work, it is celebrated much in the same fashion as POW/MIA day, with ceremonies by private and public institutions to honor those in uniform. Today, all 50 states recognize October 26 in some fashion.
Federal Recognition
Over the years, John Hoeven moved on from being a governor to a career as a North Dakota State Senator, and in 2011 he led an effort to establish official recognition for the holiday. On October 18, 2011, his resolution passed unanimously for the first Day Of The Deployed. The Senate resolution is passed anew each year.
In a press release issued by the Senator’s office that first announced the measure, Hoeven said, “Our U.S. service men and women currently deployed, along with their loved ones, make untold sacrifices as they serve our nation…A national Day of the Deployed pays tribute to their commitment to our country and their work to protect our freedoms.”
Ways to Bring Awareness to Deployed Troops:
U.S. Navy photo by Public Affairs Specialist Joel Diller.
Send care packages.
Make a donation to a military support organization.
Look to local chapters of veteran-supporting groups such as the Veterans Of Foreign Wars, USO, Disabled American Veterans, etc. for ways to aid and assist.
Connect with Soldiers’ Angels which has many programs for supporting deployed troops.
Donate money to send a care package.
Display a yellow ribbon. Yellow ribbons are a remembrance of the men and women who serve far from home.
On social media, use the hashtag #DayOfTheDeployed on October 26th to raise awareness and encourage others so support deployed service members and their families.
Connect personally by reaching out to a deployed troop you know.