This month is officially National Veterans and Military Families Month, after a Presidential proclamation issued Monday.

“Constant tours, deployments and rotations are difficult for our military families,” President Biden said in the proclamation. “Jill and I have personally experienced the anxious pride that parents feel seeing their child in uniform. We have marveled at the devotion of military families and their resilience to uproot their lives every few years and move to new communities. We honor the stalwart courage and resolve of veteran families caring for their loved ones when their service in uniform concludes.

“We grieve alongside families of the fallen who have lost a piece of their soul. That is why I take so seriously the sacred obligation to prepare and equip our service members when we send them into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they return home.”

President Biden urged people and communities to honor veterans and military families this month with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

President Biden at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon. Air National Guard photo of by Master Sgt. Steph Sawyer