2016 Special Observance Themes

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Observance 

Date

Authorization

Source/Theme

Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday

 

 

16 January 2017

 

 

Public Law 98-144

 

 

National and Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: The King Center
Remember! Celebrate! Act!
A Day On, Not A Day Off!! (This theme does not change.)

African American/Black History Month

1 - 28 February 2017

Public Law 99-244

National and Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)
2017 Theme: The Crisis in Black Education

Women’s History Month 1 - 31 March 2017  Public Law 100-9 

National and Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: Women’s History Project
2016 Theme: “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business”

 


Sexual Assault Awareness Month

 

 

1 - 30 April 2017

DoD Directive 6495.01 – Department
policy on sexual assault prevention
and response. Highlights responsibilities
for training, awareness, etc.

 

Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAP )
2017 Theme: “Protecting Our People Protects Our Nation”

Holocaust Remembrance Day
Days of Remembrance

 

 

5 May 2017
1 - 8 May 2017

 

 

Public Law 96-388 and
Presidential Proclamation

 

 

National and Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
2017 Theme: Not Yet Available

 

 

Asian American and Pacific
Islander Heritage Month

 

 

1 - 31 May 2017

 

 

Title 36, U.S. Code, Section 102.

 

 

National and Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC)
2017 Theme: Unite Our Voices by Speaking Together

LGBT Pride Month

 

 

1 - 30 June 2017

 

 

Presidential proclamation
(historically published the
beginning of June)

 

 

Department of Defense Theme
Source: Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity
2017 Theme: Not Yet Available

 

 

Women’s Equality Day

 

 

26 August 2017

 

 

Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971
and Presidential Proclamation

 

 

National and Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: Women’s History Project
2017 Theme: Celebrating Women's Right to Vote (This theme does not change.)

 

 

Hispanic Heritage Month

 

 

15 September-
October 2017

Title 36, U.S. Code, Section 126.

 

 

National and Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers
2017 Theme: “Hispanic American: Embracing, Enriching and Enabling America”

 

 

National Disability Employment
Awareness Month

 

 

1 - 31 October 2017

Title 36, U.S. Code, Section 121.

 

 

National and Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: Department of Labor
2017 Theme: “Inclusion Works”

 

 

National American Indian Heritage Month

1 - 30 November 2017

Public Law 102-188, Executive
Order 13270 and Presidential
Proclamation

National and Department of Defense USD (P&R) Theme
Source: Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE)

2017 Theme: Serving Our Nations


PLEASE NOTE: On behalf of the Department of Defense office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity (ODMEO), the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute provides these themes for national observances on this compiled listing for use in developing special observance programs. DEOMI does not create these themes, but this listing provides the source of each of them. While these themes are representative of the Department of Defense, this does not preclude an organization from creating their own theme or using previously published themes.

 

 

Organizations are not required to limit their special observances to just those reflected here. Others may be conducted providing the same local procedures are used for research, planning, implementation and evaluation as any other special observance. Organizations are reminded that special observances are conducted to recognize the continuous achievements of all Americans to American culture and to increase awareness, mutual respect, and understanding. They are designed to enhance cross-cultura1 and cross-gender awareness and promote harmony among all military members, their families, and the civilian workforce. For more information about how to conduct a special observance, please visit: www.deomi.org.

 

 

As of: 5 Nov 2015

 

 



I Marine Expeditionary Force