Vietnam Veterans Day

3/28/2019

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Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. 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 On that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil.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 47 states and Puerto Rico to recognize a Vietnam Veterans Day either annually or for a specific year. A list of Governor proclamations can be found here. 

Legislation | Resolutions Recognizing Vietnam Veterans Day
STATE BILL NUMBER STATUS SUMMARY
Alabama 2018 HR 305 Adopted Designates March 29, 2018, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2016 HR 246 Adopted Designates Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day on March 30, 2016.
  2012 HJR 66 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day
  2012 HJR 67 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2012 SJR 18 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2011 HJR 199 Enacted Designates March 30, 2011, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2010 HJR 963 Enacted Honors Vietnam veterans and encourages the 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 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.
  2010 SCR 1056 Adopted Recognizes March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Arkansas 2018 SR 13 Adopted Designates March 29, 2018, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2018 HR 1016 Adopted Designates March 29, 2018, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
California 2018 SCR 86 Adopted Designates June 19, 2018, as Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day.
  2017 SCR 61 Adopted Designates June 19, 2017, as Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day.
  2011 ACR 63 Adopted Recognizes June 19, 2011, as Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day.
  2010 AB 1775 Enacted 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 Directs the governor to annually proclaim March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. 
  2009 SR 18 Adopted Recognizes 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 Recognizes December 10-14, 2008 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Week.
  2004 ACR 171 Adopted Recognizes 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 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 2018 HCR 71 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2018 as National Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2016 HCR 76 Adopted Recognizes the week of May 9-15, 2016 as Vietnam Veterans Week.
  2015 HCR 31 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2015, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. 
  2010 HB 472 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day. 
Florida 2014 HR 9055 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2014, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2013 HR 9019 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2013, 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.
Hawaii 2018 HR 223 Adopted The House of Representatives of the 29th Legislature of the State of Hawaii 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 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 Recognizes 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 Recognizes March 30, 2013, and March 30, 2014, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2011 HR 223 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2011, and March 30, 2012, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2010 HJR 89 Adopted Recognizes 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 Recognizes March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2009 SCR 87 Adopted Recognizes March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Kansas 2014 HR 6067/SR 1805 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2014, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2011 HR 6018 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2011, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Kentucky 2019 HR 180 Adopted Commemorates March 29 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2018 HR 256 Adopted Commemorates March 29 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2017 HR 200 Adopted Honors Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2017 SR 250 Adopted Honors Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2016 SB 178 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2012 HR 81 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2012, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. 
  2010 HR 225 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2010, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Louisiana 2014 SR 89 Adopted Designates May 5, 2014, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
  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 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day in recognition of the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans.
  2015 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 and recommending that said day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.
Michigan 2018 HR 281 Adopted Declares March 29, 2018, as Recognize Vietnam Veterans Day in the state of Michigan.
  2017 SR 35 Adopted Commemorates March 29, 2017, as 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.
  2016 SCR 620 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2016 as Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2013 SCR 512b Adopted Recognizes March 29 as an annual Vietnam Veterans recognition day.
  2011 HCR 94 Adopted Recognizes April 30, 2011, as Vietnam Veterans of Mississippi Recognition 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 to acknowledge and commemorate the military service of American men and women in Vietnam.
New Jersey 1991 AB 3327 Enacted 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 2016 HM 88 Adopted Requests that the governor declares March 29, 2016, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2013 HJM 4 Adopted Requests that the governor declares March 29, 2013, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2009 HM 48 Adopted Recognizes March 27, 2009, as Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day in the New Mexico House of Representatives.
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 2017 EO 5 Ordered Recognizes Vietnam Veterans Day. Directs that appropriate steps be taken to fly all American flags and Oklahoma flags on state property at half-staff on Thursday, March 16, 2017. 
  2014 SCR 37 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2014, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. Encourages citizens to participate in celebrations.
  1998 HB 2255 Enacted 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 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.
  2018 HR 774 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2018, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2017 HR 178 Adopted Designates March 30, 2017, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2017 SR 70 Adopted Designates March 30, 2017, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2016 SR 316 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2016, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2015 HR 57/SR 48 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2015, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2013 HR 574 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 3014 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2011 HR 579 Adopted Recognizes March 30, 2012, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2010 HR 639 Adopted Recognizes 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 Recognizes 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 Recognizes May 7, 2006, as Vietnam Veteran Remembrance Day.
  2006 HR 709 Adopted Recognizes April 25, 2006, as Vietnam Veteran Remembrance Day.
  2003 HR 275/ SR 96 Adopted Recognizes May 7, 2003, as Vietnam Veterans Recognition 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.
  2011 HB 3925 Adopted Recognizes 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 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.
  2008 HCR 1005 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2008, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
Tennessee 2017 SJR 158 Enacted Honors the state's Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration in Chattanooga.
  2016 HJR 572 Enacted Recognizes Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2013 SJR 871 Enacted Honors and recognize Vietnam Veterans on Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2013 SJR 183 Enacted Commemorates Vietnam Veterans Day and the 40th anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam.
  2008 HB 2452/ SB 2643 Enacted Designates March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day a day of special observance.
  2010 HR 231 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2016, as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
Texas 2011 HR 840 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2011, as Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2011 SR 648 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2011, as Vietnam Veterans Day at the State Capitol.
  2009 SB 1903 Enacted Designates March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day and requires the day to be regularly observed by the appropriate ceremonies.
  2009 HCR 182 Adopted Recognizes March 29, 2010, 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 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 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 Designates a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
  2013 SR 8643 Adopted Recognizes 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 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.
  2011 SCR 10 Adopted Designates March 30 annually West Virginia Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day.
  2005 HCR 46 Adopted Recognizes and acknowledges Vietnam Veterans Recognition Week to be held in homage to the honorable and dedicated veterans who served during the Vietnam War.
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. 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.
Wyoming 2011 HB 177 Enacted Designates March 30 of each year as Wyoming Veterans Welcome Home Day in recognition of the members of the armed forces who served bravely and faithfully during the Vietnam War, and to all those service members who were not properly thanked or welcomed home following their military service.
Puerto Rico 2009 SB 2035 Enacted Designates March 30th of each year as Vietnam Veterans' Day in Puerto Rico.

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