National Headache Awareness Week, June 3-9. For headache sufferers, that throbbing pain inside the skull is nothing to joke about. Find information about controlling your headaches and helping others at the National Headache Foundation website.

Men’s Health Week, June 11-17. Held during the week before Father’s Day, Men’s Health Week aims to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

National Nursing Assistants Week, June 14-21. Nursing assistants are important to the people in their care, and each nursing assistant is called to create an environment of caring. The nationwide observance of Nursing Assistants Week provides many opportunities to recognize and validate the role of the nursing assistant in the health care system.

Lightning Safety Week, June 24-30. An average of 55 people are reported killed each year by lightning in the U.S. Summer is the peak season for lightning, but don’t be fooled—lightning strikes year round.


Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. Go to the ASPCA.org website to find a list of top 10 tips to know before taking your newly adopted kitty home from a local shelter. Hint: The average cat has a vocabulary of more than 16 different sounds, including purring, howling, hissing, and meowing—not to mention a wide range of playful and serious body language.

African-American Music Appreciation Month. President Jimmy Carter designated June as Black Music Month in 1979. It was renamed African-American Music Appreciation Month by President Barack Obama, who proclaimed in 2011: “During African-American Music Appreciation Month, we honor the rich musical traditions of African-American musicians and their gifts to our country and our world.”

National Aphasia Awareness Month. Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that affects a person’s ability to process language but doesn’t affect his or her intelligence. Aphasia impairs the ability to speak and understand others, and most people with aphasia experience difficulty reading and writing as well. To learn more, go to the National Aphasia Association website, www.aphasia.org.

National Dairy Month. Got milk? The National Institutes of Health advises everyone that “calcium is required for vascular contraction and vasodilation, muscle function, nerve transmission, intracellular signaling, and hormonal secretion . . . 99 percent of the body’s calcium supply is stored in the bones and teeth, where it supports their structure and function. Bone itself undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant reabsorption and deposition of calcium into new bone.”


National Cancer Survivors Day, June 3. The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a “survivor” as anyone living with a history of cancer—from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

World Oceans Day, June 8. Celebrate the beauty and diversity of life in the world’s oceans.

Flag Day, June 14. Fly the Stars and Stripes proudly.

Magna Carta Day, June 15. On June 15, 1215, King John of England was forced to sign the Magna Carta, the “great charter” of English liberties that for the first time limited the authority of government and placed the rule of law above the power of the king.

Father’s Day, June 17. Remember your father, and all dads, on this big day.

Take Your Dog to Work Day, June 22. Better check with your boss first, but if you get the OK, bring Fido to the office for a visit. Don’t forget the doggy treats.