To the Journal editor:

Mr. Gene Miller, U.S. Navy veteran, is apparently unaware that in 1999 Congress designated May as Military Appreciation Month and that in 1996 the Armed Services YMCA designated November as National Veteran and Military Families Month. Veterans (Armistice) Day, a federal holiday, is Nov. 11.

POW-MIA Day is the third Friday in September. Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. Memorial Day, a federal holiday, is the last Monday of May. We have two months of militarily-related celebration, including two paid federal holidays, versus only one month without a federal paid holiday for Pride celebration.

In Mr. Miller’s … belief that Pride celebration time unfairly exceeds veteran’s celebration time, he apparently wants everyone to decide which group of Americans is more important to celebrate, the LGTBQ or veterans, then “be loyal to it,” whatever that means. In the same vein, one could wonder if Mr. Miller also feels the same towards Black History month, Women’s History month, Native American History month, etc.

It is honorable to serve the U.S. in a military capacity, so it’s fitting that the U.S. has two months of official recognition for veterans, military personnel and their families.

Please note, these groups of Americans include LGBTQ members, Blacks, women, Native Americans and members of many other groups who served or are currently serving their country honorably.

Rather than choosing sides and dividing ourselves as Mr. Miller apparently would have us do, perhaps we could join together in appreciating the fact U.S. has such a combined lengthy period to celebrate veterans, military personnel and their families.

Mr. Miller may fail to understand why LGBTQ, Blacks, women and Native Americans were each given a dedicated month of recognition each year. Historically, each of these groups of American have been treated poorly under the thumb of conservative white christian men.

Representatives of these down trodden groups fought long and hard for the same freedoms these conservative white christian men have seemingly taken for granted and enjoyed since the beginning of the U.S.

Part of that fight included getting the federal government to recognize them and honor their rights and accomplishments with a month each year dedicated them.

Similarly, veterans have rightly fought our government for recognition, medical treatment and benefits paid at government expense for injuries and sicknesses related to time served in the military.