April showers bring May flowers, along with a whole host of other special days.

The month kicks off with May Day, and then keeps the celebrations and observances coming, with such holiday highlights as Cinco de Mayo, Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day.

Public servants are fortunate to receive not just one but seven days in this particularly jam-packed month. Celebrated every first full week of May since 1985, Public Service Recognition Week is a time set aside for honoring the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county and local government employees.

This year, PSRW will be observed from Sunday, May 5, until Saturday, May 11, 2019, and there will be a variety of ways to mark the occasion.

How to celebrate Public Service Recognition Week

For over three decades, PSRW has been a time not only for ordinary Americans to thank public servants, but for public employees to educate citizens about the work that they do and the reasons that they have chosen public service careers. The program's stated goals include connecting with and educating citizens nationwide about the work of their government, improving the perception and morale of federal workers and other public servants and helping to inspire a new generation of public servants.

To that end, there are several PSRW events planned for this week in May, taking place in a variety of venues ranging from the steps of the Capitol building to some of the smallest towns in the country.

On Sunday, April 28, the festivities got a headstart in the form of the seventh annual Public Service Charity 5K/1M Run/Walk in National Harbor, Maryland. Over 500 runners, walkers and volunteers participated in the D.C. metro area event, raising money to support FEEA, the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund's disaster relief, emergency hardship loan and scholarship programs.

And on Thursday, May 9, the finalists for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals will be announced. Named for the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service's late founder, the "Sammies" are the Oscars of government service, awarded to exceptional federal workers who are making the government more effective.

Last year's honorees included Margaret Moeser of the Justice Department and Karen Dodge of the Federal Trade Commission, who led criminal and civil investigations that ultimately resulted in nearly $600 million in financial losses being restored to hundreds of thousands of people who were defrauded by money transfer scams. The massive settlement represented the largest forfeiture ever by a money services business.

The 2018 Federal Employee of the Year award went to Dr. Daniel Kastner, Scientific Director at the National Institutes of Health, who identified an entire new class of rare genetic diseases and treatments to help thousands of patients in the U.S. and around the world.

Similar events will take place all over the country, with various FEB Excellence in Federal Government Awards ceremonies scheduled to take place in multiple cities, ranging from Honolulu to Cincinnati.

In our nation's capital, public servants will also get to enjoy the national pastime. On May 14, the Washington Nationals will host National Federal Workforce Day, providing government employees with discounted tickets to that evening's game and featuring an on-field ceremony before the first pitch.

Local government agencies, Federal Executive Boards, military bases and schools are all encouraged to observe Public Service Recognition Week as well, and the official PSRW website has a Celebration Toolkit that can help you plan your participation. The online resources are designed to provide ideas and tools that can help individuals reach out to their community, local media and local educators to encourage everyone to show public servants the respect and appreciation they deserve.

Sept. 11, 2001 was one of the most fateful days in recent history for the U.S. On that date, the terrorist group al-Qaeda launched a series of four coordinated attacks on American soil. Per statistics from CNN, the attacks ended the lives of 2,977 people in Washington, DC, New York City and an area near Shanksville, PA. Additionally, more than 6,000 others were injured during the event. 9/11 was also noted as the deadliest day for first responders, as 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers lost their lives trying to help others.

The event drastically affected the nation, directly leading to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and a $40 billion anti-terrorism package. But 9/11's effects weren't just of a macro size. Many individuals were directly affected, and communities both big and small came together to honor the dead and celebrate those who rushed to provide aid to others.

Those celebrations continue across the country to this day. Cities big and small are holding charity walks, dinners and similar events to raise money for first responders in the name of that fateful day.

Rock Island, IL, holding a walk to remember

The Rock Island military community is sponsoring a walk to remember those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks, according to the Quad-City Times. Each participant will hold a flag representing the life of a civilian, first responder or servicemember who died that day. They will walk 2.5 miles to a Field of Honor, where they will place the flags. 

"It is our sincere desire that this remembrance walk evokes a new sense of re-commitment to the task at hand," said a news release.

Pasadena, TX, raises funds for first responders

According to The Houston Chronicle, the city of Pasadena is holding its own fundraiser to benefit local first responders. The event includes singing and music performances from police and firefighters, plus a 9/11 reenactment by actors from the Pasadena Little Theater. Eight performers will portray the 26 characters in the docudrama "110 stories."

"I had been looking for something to do around 9/11 to pay tribute to first responders," said Gregory R. Brown, treasurer of the theater, to The Houston Chronicle. "Last December, I visited the (911 Memorial and Museum in New York City), and I found this script online in January. I was so moved that I brought it to the board in the hopes of presenting it as a way to give back to the first responders in the community we are a part of."

Ticket proceeds will go to the Pasadena Citizen Police Academy Alumni and the Pasadena Volunteer Fireman's Association.

The Travis Manion Foundation sponsors 9/11 Heroes Runs

Runners and walkers across the nation have organized 9/11 Heroes Runs in the name of 1st Lt. Travis Manion, a young man who was killed in action during his tour in Iraq. Manion's unit was ambushed while searching a suspected insurgent house, and Manion bravely sacrificed himself drawing enemy fire. His strength of character allowed the rest of his unit to survive. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star with Valor, and his actions (and friendship with another servicemember) were memorialized in the book "Brothers Forever." 

The first 9/11 Heroes Run was a small memorial created by the Travis Manion Foundation, but it quickly spread into a nationwide event. Runs are currently scheduled in areas such as Houston, Philadelphia, Virginia Beach, San Diego and more. 

Remembering 9/11

These are just a small selection of the various memorial events taking place across the country this September. Given the severity of the 9/11 attacks and the effects they had on the nation, it's safe to say that such services will continue for years to come.

There are times when your patriotic nature needs a jumpstart. There is no better place to turn to rejuvenate your American spirit than Hollywood. For decades, films have embodied what it means to be an American. They have us cheering for our heroes and chanting, "USA!" See which movies made the most patriotic list. 

1. 'The Patriot' 
The title says it all. This movie tells the story of the brave men and women who fought so that our country could exist. "The Patriot" defines what it means to be an American. It depicts the sacrifice and courage it took to found this country.

2. 'Independence Day'
Even though this sci-fi was a little far-fetched, "Independence Day" still captures the grit of the American people. Our fighting spirit has never shined so brightly as when Bill Pullman shouts, "Today we celebrate our Independence Day," after stopping the alien invasion.

3. 'Glory'
This period drama may have been set during a divided time in American history, but the unity of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts is as American as it gets. These men were fighting together for their freedom. 

4. 'Captain America: The First Avenger'
Marvel's comic-inspired character, Steve Rogers, is the personification of the American spirit. Rogers' determination to serve his country, even in the face of multiple rejections, is a testament to American tenacity. His star-spangled suit and commitment to ensuring that the American dream lives on makes Captain America one of the most patriotic characters of all time. 

5. 'Red Dawn'
Depending on which version of this film you watch, either the Russians or the North Koreans invade the U.S. But a rag-tag group of high school students, self-titled the Wolverines, stand up to the offending country. They defend the land and freedom that is theirs despite their fear and inexperience.

6. 'Top Gun'
Thousands of Americans felt the "need for speed" after watching this 1986 classic. In fact, Naval enlistment increased by 70 percent after the movie's release. The adrenaline-packed aerial dogfights and troop camaraderie showed a more exciting side to American military service. 

7. 'Annapolis'
This movie involves another underdog, Jake Huard, who aspires to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, but a life of poverty and self-doubt threaten to hold him back. It is hard not to get goose bumps when Huard's commanding officer asks him why he is at the academy and Huard responds stoically, "To serve my country, sir."

The next time you are looking for a jolt of patriotism, turn on one of these films. The struggles and triumphs of the movies' heroes will surely revitalize your American spirit. 

In an emergency situation, communication is critical. In the occurrence of a national emergency, communication between components of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is especially important. 

On July 7, President Obama signed the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act. According to the Committee on Homeland Security, the act requires the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that interoperable communications are maintained within components of the department. 

According to Homeland Security Today magazine, Homeland Security must also write and submit a plan to Congress that details how the group will achieve department-wide interoperable communications.

The act was introduced by Democratic Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey on March 24, 2014, as an amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Payne is a ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications.

"This is a great victory for New Jersey and for our entire nation," Payne said in a statement. "The law sets up the Department of Homeland Security to finally achieve department-wide interoperable communications, a necessity for ensuring the safety of DHS personnel and the communities they serve. I thank President Obama for swiftly signing the DHS Interoperable Communications Act into law."

According to Payne's official website, the bill was proposed in response to Homeland Security's lack of a robust and comprehensive strategy for communication. A 2015 follow-up to a 2012 audit found that plans for corrective actions had not been finalized and there was no timetable for finalization to occur, leaving the department unprepared for emergencies.  

Though there is no confirmed threat to the U.S., the country is increasing security after Wednesday's attack at the Canadian Parliament and War Memorial. 

The Associated Press reported that the solider guarding Ottawa's National War Memorial was shot and killed. Shots were also fired inside the Parliament building. 

According to a statement made by the FBI and Homeland Security security awareness has been raised to post 9/11 levels. There has been increased protection around the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington, D.C., as an extra measure of safety. The U.S. Embassy's Ottawa location was also locked down following the shootings. 

CNN reported that the murder of the Canadian soldier was carried out by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian citizen who was later gunned down by officials. It is still unclear why he targeted Nathan Cirillo, the Canadian servicemember charged with guarding the National War Memorial.

This incident comes after another recent attack on Canadian soldiers. According to CNN, a man struck and killed two servicemembers in Quebec with his car a week ago. The man responsible for this was a known jihadist. Though there is no evidence that these two attacks are connected, there is speculation that they both stem from radical Islamist efforts. 

Obama declared in a statement that the U.S. is prepared to help Canada with its response to the issue and will remain a strong ally of the nation during this difficult time. 

Another American civilian has been killed in Syria – this time, he was fighting for ISIL. The New York Times reported that American Douglas McAuthur McCain was killed by members of the Free Syrian Army, which is a U.S.-supported Syrian coalition fighting against President Bushar Al-Assad. Perhaps more concerning than McCain's involvement with the extremist ISIL militants is something Free Syrian Army forces found on his person – a U.S. passport that may have allowed McCain to travel home to America unhindered.

Westerners join ISIL
According to BBC News, a reasonable amount of westerners have left their home countries to join ISIL militants in regions of Iraq and Syria. The fear is that these individuals may head home after meeting with ISIL, creating a security concern and paving the way for future terrorist activities on the home front. The Daily Beast stated that U.S. intelligence claimed that more than 100 Americans have traveled to Syria to fight alongside Sunni terrorist forces. Even more concerning, the news source alleged that between six and 12 Americans who traveled to Syria to fight Assad have already returned home, according to U.S. senior intelligence officials. Now, officials are left worrying whether returners may have come home to commit terrorist activities.

The culture of ISIL
​Others claim that those involved in past terrorism plots are different from the militants fighting for ISIL. Whereas Al-Qaeda encouraged its members to sneak into foreign nations to commit crimes against unknowing civilian populations, some say ISIL is more concerned with bringing fighters to their home front in order to expand their caliphate. 

"[McCain's] death is further evidence that Americans are going there to fight for [ISIL] rather than to train as terrorists to attack at home," said Richard Barrett, a former British intelligence officer, according to the Times. "Nor does it appear that [ISIL] regards Americans as assets that are too valuable to risk on the front line rather than to keep in reserve for terrorist attacks or propaganda purposes."

While ISIL continues to push the reaches of their captured territory, officials are uncertain whether the group will focus on different strategies when faced with increasing American airstrikes. 

Earlier this month, ISIL forces murdered American journalist James Foley, warning American officials that more U.S. hostages may suffer a similar fate if American airstrikes persisted, according to CNN. 

Gen. Dempsey told a group of reporters recently that he would recommend the U.S. military move against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces if they become a direct threat to the U.S. homeland, according to The Associated Press. As of yet, Dempsey still considers the group a regional threat and does not believe militants are planning to launch attacks against the U.S. or European nations, the news source reported. Dempsey has not recommended military action or airstrikes against the group in Syria yet.

Battling ISIL forces
American servicemembers have not engaged ISIL militants outside of Iraq, excluding a 24-man search and rescue operation executed earlier this summer, which was intended to save American hostages inside Syria, according to CBS News.

Instead, military operations against the extremist group have been restricted to particular measures in Iraq to protect American officials and Iraqi civilians who fled to Mount Sinjar. Both events predominantly included calculated U.S. airstrikes. Thus far, the AP reported that the U.S. has launched 96 airstrikes across Iraq targeting ISIL targets. Sixty-two of those airstrikes occurred around the Mosul Dam. ISIL forces captured Mosul – Iraq's second-largest city – in June and commandeered an expanse of land stretching from Syria to western and northern Iraq. 

Working with allies
If U.S. military forces decide to move against ISIL, the Joint Chiefs chairman believes surrounding nations will join the effort against the extremist group, including Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, according to Fox News.

"I think ISIS has been so brutal, and has wrapped itself in a radical religious legitimacy that clearly threatens everybody I just mentioned, that I think they will be willing partners," Dempsey said, according to the news source.

If American territories are threatened, the U.S. military response may include a variety of measures. Airstrikes in Syria have not been authorized by the Obama administration, but this could change with Dempsey's recommendation. Moreover, the U.S. could provide more assistance and advice to Iraqi forces instead of putting a greater force of boots on the ground. Dempsey told reporters that U.S. military advisers have already assessed roughly 50 Iraqi military brigades and Kurdish units to judge whether the forces are trained well enough and sufficiently equipped to fight ISIL forces, the AP reported. As of yet, the U.S. has not received permission to or attempted to put military advisers alongside Iraqi troops in combat.

From his gift for stand-up comedy to his role as a nanny in "Mrs. Doubtfire," Robin Williams won the hearts and laughs of millions. But there's another side of the legendary actor and comic that some overlook. He was also showed incredible support to American soldiers.

Over a decade of performing for troops
According to Fox News, Williams participated in United Service Organization tours for over a decade, traveling to war zones in 13 countries and performing stand-up for nearly 90,000 troops. His respect for servicemembers of the U.S. ran deep, and he even spoke about his experience performing for soldiers in an interview with ABC News back in 2012.

"I'm so honored to meet them and know what they've gone through and say, 'Hey dude,' this is just something that really humbles me," Williams said, according to the news source.

Servicemembers remember Robin Williams
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel issued a statement Aug. 11, reading, "The entire Department of Defense community mourns the loss of Robin Williams. Robin was a gifted actor and comedian, but he was also a true friend and supporter of our troops. From entertaining thousands of service men and women in war zones, to his philanthropy that helped veterans struggling with hidden wounds of war, he was a loyal and compassionate advocate for all who serve this nation in uniform. He will be dearly missed by the men and women of DoD – so many of whom were personally touched by his humor and generosity."

Even off the stage during his USO tours, Williams showed his dedication to soldiers by visiting those who couldn't see his routine, according to ABC News' global correspondent Martha Raddatz.

"He would be tireless at these performances," Raddatz said in an ABC News report. "He would perform in the big shows where everyone could go see him, but when others were performing, he'd sneak away and go to the guard posts and the dining facilities to visit those soldiers and marines who weren't able to come to the big show."

The loss of Williams reverberated through every sector of the armed forces, even warranting a statement from President Barack Obama .

"Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between," Obama said  "But he was one of a kind.  He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit.  He made us laugh.  He made us cry.  He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.  The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin's family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams."

The number of people on the U.S. terrorism database – which can place people on a no-fly list – has doubled within a few years, according to The Associated Press. Reportedly, there were 1.1 million individuals in the database at the end of 2013, according to the National Counterterrorism Center. In 2010, there were 550,000 names in the database.

Few submissions are not accepted
In an AP report earlier this year, the news agency stated around 99 percent of the names submitted to the government for the U.S. terrorism database are accepted, which has lead to criticism regarding the ease with which names can be added to the list. 

The database holds all the names of known terrorists, people suspected of having ties to terrorists and sometimes people who are related to terrorists or are associates of people who are suspected terrorists. The National Counterterrorism Center told the AP that 25,000 U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents are in the database currently.

Government officials became more diligent and aggressive in adding names to the terrorism database after a failed attempt to blow up a plane over the city of Detroit on Christmas in 2009. Reportedly the terror operative involved in this instance was listed on the terrorism database. However, he was not barred from flying on a U.S. airplane. Since this event, the government has become more lenient in adding names to the database, according to the AP. In fact, the government needs no evidence of a person's involvement in terrorism efforts or links to suspected terrorists to be included in the database.

Increasing submission rates 
Since 2009, the rate of name submissions has increased dramatically over the years. According to the AP:

• In 2009, 227,932 names were submitted to the database
• In 2010, submissions rose to 250,847 
• In 2012, the number of names increased to 336,712
• In 2013, 468,749 names were submitted to the database

The intelligence agency, which has been in the news as of late, may soon have a new military man in charge.

Gen. Keith Alexander is scheduled to step down from his position atop the National Security Agency in mid-March, creating a void many expect Navy Vice Adm. Mike Rogers to fill. Seemingly always in the headlines after former-consultant Edward Snowden's disclosure of surveillance programs, the Military Times reported that Rogers is expected to continue many of his predecessor's programs but with greater transparency to the public.

As a sign of the Obama administration's preference for a new direction, the Columbus Dispatch reports that the President himself interviewed Rogers last week. If confirmed by the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rogers will be the latest uniformed serviceman to helm the NSA as part of a 62-year-long stretch of such appointments.

Rogers appears to have all the right credentials to lead the nation's highest intelligence agency in a time when public confidence in it is flagging. His official Naval biography lists degrees with distinction and honors from Auburn University, the National War College, the Naval War College as well as a Masters of Science in National Security strategy.

Currently, Rogers serves as head of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and the director of Intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Pacific Command.