Skip to main content

Summary Vietnam Veterans Day

Vietnam veterans hat, service ribbons and pouches on camouflage uniform
Updated March 25, 2021

Vietnam 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.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, signed into law in 2017, designates March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

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 On that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil.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 adopted resolutions from 48 states and Puerto Rico to recognize a Vietnam Veterans Day either annually or for a specific year. The Vietnam War Commemoration provides a list of Governor proclamations. 

 
Legislation | Resolutions Recognizing Vietnam Veterans Day
State Bill Number Status Summary
Alabama 2012 HJR 67/SJR 18 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Alaska 2013 HB 67 Enacted Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Arizona 2014 SB 1312 Enacted Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans' Day.
Arkansas 2018 HR 1016/SR 13 Adopted Designates March 29, 2018, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
California 2010 AB 1775 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Colorado 2021 SB 24 To Governor Designates March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Connecticut 2010 HB 5352 Enacted Directs the governor to proclaim March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Delaware 2019 SCR 19 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2019, as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
2010 HB 472 Enacted Designates March 30 as Vietnam Veterans Day to honor members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam.
Florida 2014 HR 9055 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2014, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Georgia 2019 HR 848 Adopted Commends all Vietnam era and Vietnam War veterans and their families and the Vietnamese community in this state and commemorating the 50th honoring the National Vietnam Veterans Day.
Hawaii 2018 HR 223 Adopted Honors and recognizes the brave men and women who served our country during the Vietnam War.
Idaho 2014 HCR 51 Adopted Encourages the people of Idaho to observe Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Iowa 2012 HR 115 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2012, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Illinois 2019 HJR 15 Adopted Designates Nov. 1, 2019, as Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day.
Indiana 2014 HCR 22 Adopted Urges the Governor to designate March 30 each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Kansas 2014 HR 6067/SR 1805 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2014, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Kentucky 2016 SB 178 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Louisiana 2009 HCR 39 Adopted Recognizes March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Maine 2011 HB 12 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day.
Maryland 2015 HB 1118/SB 80 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 6 §15MM Enacted Directs the governor to annually issue a proclamation setting apart March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Michigan 2019 HB 4732 Pending Designates March 29 as Recognize Vietnam Veterans Day.
Minnesota 2009 HB 1400/ SB 1142 Enacted Designates June 13, 2009, as Honoring All Vietnam Era Veterans Day.
2008 HB 2582 Enacted Designates March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Mississippi 2017 HB 976 Enacted Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Missouri 2012 HB 1128 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Montana 2011 HB 255 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
New Hampshire 2011 SB 398 Enacted Designates March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day..
New Jersey 1991 AB 3327 Enacted Designates May 7 of each year as Vietnam Veterans' Remembrance Day.
New Mexico 2016 HM 88 Adopted Requests that the governor declares March 29, 2016, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
New York 2008 SB 6472 Enacted 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 Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Ohio 2011 SB 134 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Oklahoma 1998 HB 2255 Enacted Designates the third Thursday of March of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Oregon 2011 SB 74 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Pennsylvania 2019 HR 170 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2019, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Rhode Island 2011 HR 6012 Adopted Recognizes March 30th, 2011 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
South Carolina 2018 HR 5127 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2018, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
2006 HB 4313 Enacted 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 Designates Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day as a working holiday.
Tennessee 2008 SB 2643 Enacted Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Texas 2009 SB 1903 Enacted Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Utah 2014 HB 275 Enacted Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day.
Vermont 2011 HJR 31 Adopted Urges Congress to designate March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Virginia 2010 HJR 136/SJR 42 Adopted Recognizes March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Washington 2013 HB 1319 Enacted Designates a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
West Virginia 2012 HB 4493 Enacted Directs the governor to declare March 30 as a special memorial day to be known as Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day.
2011 SCR 10 Adopted Designates March 30 of each year as West Virginia Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day.
Wisconsin 2009 SB 76 Enacted 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.
Wyoming 2011 HB 177 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Wyoming Veterans Welcome Home Day.
Puerto Rico 2009 SB 2035 Enacted Designates March 30th of each year as Vietnam Veterans' Day in Puerto Rico.

Related Resources

Loading

  • Contact NCSL

  • For more information on this topic, use this form to reach NCSL staff.