NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – May is National Military Appreciation Month, and among the many days set aside to honor our military members serving yesterday and today is Armed Forces Day. It’s always the third Saturday in May. 

This year the Grand Strand Blue Star Mothers and American Legion Post 186 are hosting a salute to not only members of the military but first responders as well. 

“My husband is a Vietnam veteran, my husband served 20 years on NYPD, I have four sons who joined the NYPD, I have two of those sons that were in the military,” said Connie Muirhead, a member of the Grand Strand Blue Star Mothers. “My son was in the military for four years, my youngest was in the Navy for 10, just got back from a deployment in September and is now done.” 

Connie didn’t serve overseas but she is serving now. With some help she’s putting on the salute to armed forces & first responders Saturday at the Veterans Memorial at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex.

“We’re doing this because we want the community to honor and appreciate and thank our military, our veterans, our police officers, fire fighters, first responders,” said Connie.

Connie also has the help of her husband James, who was a N.Y.P.D. officer for 21-years. Before that he was in Vietnam. 50 Years ago events like this didn’t happen as often, or at all. 

“When I came back it was 1969, November 1969,” said James Muirhead, Vietnam veteran and retired cop. “And the biggest problem I had was people said “Oh, where were you?” Like you were gone for a year but nobody knew that. I was lucky, my father was a World War Two combat vet, so he spent four years, so every time I was depressed, or down, I would say “Wait, I spent a year, you spent four years.” 

“It’s our way of giving back, said James. “I’m a Vietnam combat vet. For many years we kept it kind of quiet. Now, especially down here, it’s more and more, and it makes you feel better about yourself, that we’re being honored.”

Saturday’s event goes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. 

Click here to get connected to the Grand Strand Blue Star Mothers.