Karen Christianson. Photo provided

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 20, 2025

By: Karen Christianson, Cook County Veterans Service Office

Each month, various organizations have selected days to recognize and celebrate diverse causes, shedding light on important social issues and cultural milestones.

There are so many different military observances for June that I am writing about a handful of them. We are halfway through the month and have already recognized some of those important dates in military history.

June 6 - The anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy. The Anniversary of D-Day remembers the first time U.S. and Allied Forces set foot on Nazi-controlled Europe. The resulting battle is still one of the world’s largest military operations to ever take place and eventually proved to be a critical victory for the Allies.

June 12 - Women Veterans Day. American women have served in the military both formally and informally throughout the history of the U.S. The first Women Veterans Day, on June 12, 2018, marked the 70th anniversary of the groundbreaking Women's Armed Services Integration (WAC) legislation, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948.

When I joined the Navy, aircrew positions were just opening to women within the cryptological community.  The Naval Air Crew Candidate School is an 11-week program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL, training aircrewmen in water and land survival and flight safety. It's a rigorous program that includes demanding physical training, including a Class II swim test and an aviation flight physical. One of the more interesting things I had to do was aircraft ditching and underwater egress training. The Helo Dunker is designed to provide a realistic environment in which trainees can practice procedures for evacuation from a ditched aircraft. Each person is expected to complete six successful egresses. They consist of the Helo Dunker dropping into the water, rolling upside down, holding your breath, releasing your harness, finding the nearest exit, and getting out. You wear goggles that are clear and blacked out. Needless to say, having the goggles blacked out was slightly nerve-racking.

June 14 - Flag Day and the Army’s 250th birthday. On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution defining the colors, configuration, and symbolism of the Stars and Stripes. To properly dispose of a flag, it’s recommended to either burn it in a dignified ceremony, bury it in a respectful manner, or recycle it. When burning the flag, fold it properly, place it in a large fire, and burn it completely to ashes, symbolizing purification. To bury a flag, place the folded flag in a strong wooden box or container and bury it a few feet in the ground, ensuring it's not in contact with the ground or dirt.              

The official birthday of the United States Army is June 14, 1775. The Second Continental Congress voted to establish the Continental Army. This action marked the creation of America’s first national military force, more than a year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

June 22 – Anniversary of the U.S. & Allied Victory at the Battle of Okinawa. On June 22, 1945, U.S. and Allied Forces declared victory over the Imperial Japanese Army. The battle was the costliest of the Pacific War. It paved the way for an invasion of mainland Japan that would ultimately never occur because of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

While in the Navy, I had multiple deployments to Okinawa and mainland Japan. I was able to visit Hiroshima in early 1992. Just imagine being in a group of five American Service Members surrounded by hundreds of Japanese citizens wanting to have their picture taken with you outside of the museum. It was a very sobering experience. I never would have expected that kind of reaction.

June 27- PTSD Awareness Day. The VA estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of Veterans who served in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD Awareness Day recognizes the hundreds of thousands of Veterans still suffering from the mental and emotional toll of their service while encouraging treatment and research.

If you or someone you know has been experiencing disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, or if these symptoms are severe and interfere with daily life, it’s crucial to seek help from a doctor or mental health professional. Immediate help should be sought if there are suicidal thoughts; contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or call 911 if there is an immediate risk of self-harm.

The Cook County Veteran Services Office is located in the Cook County Courthouse. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. By appointment only, Monday through Thursday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Office phone number 218-387-3639 and email [email protected]

County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service.