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Vietnam Veterans Day Legislation and Statutes

Vietnam Veterans Day

3/30/2016

military imageVietnam Veterans Day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families and is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more than 40 years ago.

Most states celebrate “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” on March 29 or 30 of each year. Though there is some debate, March 29 is generally viewed as a more appropriate date. On that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil. It is also the date President Nixon chose for the first Vietnam Veterans Day in 1974.

The chart below contains enacted legislation and resolutions from 42 states and Puerto Rico to designate a Vietnam Veterans Day.

Legislation and Resolutions Related to Vietnam Veterans Day

State

Statute/Legislation Citation

Status

Summary

Alabama

2012 HJR 66

Enacted, 2012 Ala. Acts, Act 047

Designates March 30, 2012 as Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day.

2012 HJR 67

Enacted, 2012 Ala. Acts, Act 048

Designates March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2012 SJR 18

Enacted, 2012 Ala. Acts, Act 009

Designates March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2010 HJR 963

Enacted, 2010 Ala. Acts, Act 640

Honors Vietnam veterans and encourages establishment of a welcome home celebration in 2011.

2005 HJR 509/ HR 503

Adopted

Recognizes national Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Week during May 1-7, 2005.

Alaska  2013 HB 67 Enacted, 2013 Alaska Sess. Laws, Chap. 3 Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Arizona

2014 SB 1312

Enacted, 2014 Ariz. Sess. Laws, Chap. 79

Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans' Day.

California

2011 ACR 63

Adopted

Designates June 19, 2011 as Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day.

2010 AB 1775 Enacted, 2010 Calif. Stats., Chap. 241 Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. Encourages all public schools and educational institutions to conduct exercises recognizing the contributions of those involved in the Vietnam War.

2009 AB 717

Enacted, 2009 Calif. Stats., Chap. 158

Directs the governor to annually proclaim March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. 

2009 SR 18

Adopted

Designates March 30, 2009 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day and urges all Californians to remember those servicemen and women who served their country during the Vietnam War era and to those who continue to protect our country.

2008 ACR 151

Adopted

Designates December 10-14, 2008 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Week.

2004 ACR 171

Adopted

Designates March 8, 2005 a day in honor of Vietnam War veterans and proclaims that the state fly its flags at half-mast on that day in honor of these veterans.

Colorado

2010 SJR 48

Adopted

Concerns recognition of military personnel from Colorado who served in the Vietnam War and honoring those who were injured or who died while serving their country.

Connecticut

2010 HB 5352

Enacted, 2010 Conn. Acts, P.A. 40

Directs the governor to proclaim March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day to commemorate and honor the return home of the members of the armed forces who served in Vietnam. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere for the observance of the day.

Delaware 2015 HCR 31 Adopted Designates March 30, 2015 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

Florida

2014 HR 9055

Adopted

Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

Georgia

2015 SR 96

Adopted

Commends all Vietnam era and Vietnam War veterans and their families. Recognizes the week of May 6-12, 2015 as the 40th anniversary observance of the ending of the Vietnam War.

2010 HR 1723 Adopted Commends Georgia's Vietnam veterans and recognizes March 30, 2010 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2013 SR 615

Adopted

Encourages Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans parades and similar events.

Idaho

2014 HCR 51

Adopted

Encourages the people of Idaho to observe Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day with ceremonies and activities that promote awareness of the contributions of Vietnam War veterans and the importance of helping those veterans readjust to civilian life.

Iowa

2012 HR 115

Adopted

Designates March 30, 2012 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

2008 SR 139

Adopted

Humbly thanks America's Vietnam veterans and recognizes May 7, 2008 as Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day in Iowa.

2005 SR 42

Adopted

Humbly thanks America's Vietnam veterans for standing strong when they were needed and answering the challenge when they were called.

Illinois

2013 SJR 3

Adopted

Proclaims March 30, 2013 and March 30, 2014 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2011 HR 223

Adopted

Proclaims March 30, 2011 and March 30, 2012 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2010 HJR 89

Adopted

Proclaims March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

Indiana

2014 HCR 22

Adopted

Urges the Governor to designate March 30 each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2012 SCR 34

Adopted

Urges the Governor to designate March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran's Day.

2009 HCR 83

Adopted

Designates March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2009 SCR 87

Adopted

Designates March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

Kansas

2014 HR 6067/SR 1805

Adopted

Designates March 30, 2014 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

Louisiana

2009 HCR 39

Adopted

Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

Maine

2011 HB 12

Enacted, 2011 Me. Laws, Chap. 2011-92

Designates March 30 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day.

Maryland  2015 HB 1118 Enacted: 2015 Md. Laws, Chap. 1 Designates March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day in recognition of the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans.

Massachusetts

Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 6 §15MM

Enacted, 1979 Mass. Acts, Chap. 244

Directs the governor to annually issue a proclamation setting apart March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day and recommending that said day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.

Minnesota

2009 HF 1400/ SF 1142

Enacted, 2009 Minn. Laws, Chap. 10

Designates June 13, 2009 as Honoring All Vietnam Era Veterans Day.

2008 HF 2582/ SF 2632 -Minn. Stat. Ann. §197.995

Enacted, 2008 Minn. Laws, Chap. 164

Designates March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Missouri 2012 HB 1128 Enacted, Signed by Governor  Designates March 30 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Montana 2011 HB 255 Enacted, 2011 Mont. Laws, Chap. 89 Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. 

New Hampshire

2011 SB 398

Enacted, 2012 N.H. Laws, Chap. 2012-222

Designates March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day to acknowledge and commemorate the military service of American men and women in Vietnam.

New Jersey

1991 AB 3327

Enacted, 1991 N.J. Laws, Chap. 100

Designates May 7 of each year as Vietnam Veterans' Remembrance Day in the State of New Jersey to honor those veterans who served in Vietnam with valor and to remember the heroic men and women from the state who lost their lives in the service of their country. Directs the Governor to issue an annual proclamation.

New Mexico

2013 HJM 4

Adopted

Requests that the governor declare March 29, 2013 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

2009 HM 48

Adopted

Declares March 27, 2009 as Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day in the New Mexico House of Representatives.

New York

2008 SB 6472

 

Enacted, 2008 N.Y. Laws, Chap. 90 Designates March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

North Carolina

2011 SB 959

Adopted

Expresses support for the designation of an annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

North Dakota

2009 SB 2192

Enacted, 2009 N.D. Sess. Laws, Chap. 66

Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Ohio

2011 SB 134

Enacted, 2012 Ohio Laws, S. 134

Designates March 30 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Oklahoma

2014 SCR 37

Adopted

Designates March 29, 2014 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. Encourages citizens to participate with celebrations.

1998 HB 2255

Enacted, 1998 Okla. Sess. Laws, Chap. 7

Designates the third Thursday of March of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day. Authorizes the governor to issue a proclamation annually calling on the citizens of the state to observe the day, and to urge all state agencies, interested organizations, groups and individuals to fly the American flag at half-staff.

2004 HR 1039

Adopted

Creates awareness for the third Thursday in March as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Oregon

2013 HCR 3

Adopted

Recognizes Korean veterans for their service during Vietnam War.

2011 SB 74 Enacted, 2011 Or. Laws, Chap. 13 Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

Pennsylvania

2015 HR 57

Adopted

Designates March 30, 2015 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2013 HR 574 Adopted Designates March 30, 3014 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2011 HR 579

Adopted

Designates March 30, 2012 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2010 HR 639

Adopted

Designates March 29, 2010 as Vietnam Veterans Day to recognize the selfless service and supreme sacrifice of Vietnam-era veterans.

2009 HR 50 / SR 40

Adopted

Designates March 30, 2009 as Vietnam Veterans Day and May 25, 2009 as Fallen Heroes of the Vietnam War Day in Pennsylvania to recognize the selfless service and supreme sacrifice of Vietnam veterans.

2008 HR 586

Adopted

Recognizes March 30, 2008 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2660 SR 277

Adopted

Designates May 7, 2006 as Vietnam Veteran Remembrance Day.

2006 HR 709

Adopted

Designates April 25, 2006 as Vietnam Veteran Remembrance Day.

2003 HR 275/ SR 96

Adopted

Designates May 7, 2003 as Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day.

Rhode Island

2011 HR 6012

Adopted

Designates March 30th, 2011 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

South Carolina

2011 HB 3925

Adopted

Designates March 26, 2011 as Vietnam-era Veterans Appreciation Day in Oconee county, offers the gratitude of the state House of Representatives for the military service of these heroes.

2006 HB 4313

Enacted, 2006 S.C. Acts, Act 268

Provides that the first Friday in May of each year is declared to be Vietnam Veterans Survivors' and Remembrance Day in South Carolina.

South Dakota

2013 SB 83

Enacted, 2013 S.D. Sess. Laws, Chap. 83

Designates Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day as a working holiday.

2008 HCR 1005

Adopted

Designates March 29, 2008 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Tennessee

2008 HB 2452/ SB 2643

Enacted, 2008 Tenn. Public Acts, Chap. 613

Designates March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day a day of special observance.

Texas

2009 SB 1903

Enacted, Texas Gen. Laws, Chap. 558

Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day and requires the day to be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies.

2009 HCR 182

Adopted

Designates March 29, 2010, as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Utah 2014 HB 275 Enacted, 2014 Utah Laws, Chap. 86 Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day.

Vermont

2011 HJR 31

Adopted

Joint Resolution urging Congress to designate March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Virginia

2010 HJR 136/SJR 42

Adopted

Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day to celebrate the service and numerous contributions of the Commonwealth’s Vietnam-era veterans and to coincide with the national observance of the day.

2009 HB 2594

Enacted, 2009 Va. Acts, Chap. 489

Designates the first full week of November of each year as Vietnam War Memorial Dedication Week and Veterans' Recognition Week in the Commonwealth, to honor in perpetuity the men and women who have served their country as members of the armed forces during the Vietnam War.

Washington

2013 HB 1319

Enacted, 2013 Wash. Laws, Chap. 5

Recognizes a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

2013 SR 8643

Adopted

Proclaims Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

West Virginia

2012 HB 4493

Enacted, 2012 W. Va. Acts, Chap. 200

Directs the governor to declare March 30 as a special memorial day to be known as Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day honoring all West Virginians who served in the United States Armed Forces in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning Feb. 28, 1961 ending May 7, 1975, and to encourage all counties and municipalities in the state to do the same.

2005 HCR 46

Adopted

Recognizes and acknowledges Vietnam Veterans Recognition Week to be held in homage of the honorable and dedicated veterans who served during the Vietnam War.

Wisconsin

2009 SB 76

Enacted, 2009 Wis. Laws,  Act 36

Designates March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day to recognize the 1,239 Wisconsin armed forces members who are listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The bill requires the governor to issue a proclamation for the observation of that day, asking the public to recall the Vietnam veterans’ accomplishments and to thank those veterans for their service during the Vietnam War.

Puerto Rico

2009 SB 2035

Enacted, 2011 Puerto Rico Acts, 269-2011

Designates March 30th of each year as Vietnam Veterans' Day in Puerto Rico.

 
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