National Vietnam War Veterans Day falls on March 29 every year. It is the one day the nation sets aside for the men and women who served in Vietnam, and for many of them it is the welcome home they never got.
Congress made the day permanent in 2017. Rhode Island passed its own version the same year. Here is why the day exists, what the law actually says, how the national commemoration evolved and seven ways you can honor a Vietnam veteran.
In This Story
National Vietnam War Veterans Day at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | March 29, every year |
| Why that date | U.S. combat troops withdrew from South Vietnam on March 29, 1973 |
| Federal law | Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, Public Law 115-15 |
| Signed | March 28, 2017 |
| What it requires | Adds the day to the list of days the U.S. flag should especially be displayed |
| Federal holiday | No |
| Rhode Island law | R.I. Gen. Laws § 25-2-20 (2017) |
Why March 29?
March 29, 1973, is the date the last U.S. combat troops withdrew from South Vietnam. Choosing that date ties the day to the moment the war ended for American combat forces.
President Barack Obama first proclaimed March 29, 2012, as Vietnam Veterans Day. That proclamation covered a single year. Veterans groups and lawmakers pushed to make it permanent, and by 2017 they had the votes.
The Law Behind National Vietnam War Veterans Day
The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 made National Vietnam War Veterans Day permanent in federal law.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Introduced in the Senate as S. 305 | Feb. 3, 2017 |
| Passed the Senate by unanimous consent | Feb. 3, 2017 |
| Passed the House by voice vote | March 21, 2017 |
| Signed into law as Public Law 115-15 | March 28, 2017 |
Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana wrote the bill. Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars backed it.
What the law actually does
The text is short. It amends Section 6(d) of Title 4 of the U.S. Code, which lists the days when the American flag should especially be displayed, by adding National Vietnam War Veterans Day. Read the full text of Public Law 115-15.
It does not create a federal holiday. Offices, banks and schools stay open. What it does is put Vietnam veterans on the same list of flag days as Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.
The 50th Anniversary Commemoration
National Vietnam War Veterans Day grew up alongside a much larger effort. The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the Secretary of Defense to run a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
President Obama launched the commemoration on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. His proclamation set it to run through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025, a span matching the length of the war itself. Read Proclamation 8829.
Over those 13 years, thousands of commemorative partners held Welcome Home ceremonies and presented lapel pins to veterans who served on active duty between Nov. 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975. Many of those events were held on or near March 29.
The commemoration’s authorized period ended on Veterans Day 2025. Bills were introduced in Congress in 2025 to extend the program, including the Vietnam Veteran Commemoration Fund Act of 2025.
How Rhode Island Observes National Vietnam War Veterans Day
Rhode Island moved the same year as Congress. In 2017 the General Assembly passed Rhode Island General Law § 25-2-20, which sets aside March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day, to be observed with appropriate exercises in public places.
Ceremonies around the state
- Rhode Island State House, Providence: the state’s official observance, where Gov. Dan McKee has honored Vietnam veterans and their families.
- Smithfield: Balfour-Cole Post 64 of the American Legion holds a ceremony at the veterans memorial in Deerfield Park, with flowers, a prayer and Taps.
- Gillette Stadium: in 2024 the Kraft family, the New England Patriots Foundation and Cross Insurance hosted a pinning ceremony for Vietnam veterans from across New England.
Check the Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services events calendar for each year’s schedule.
A memorial on the way
Rhode Island Vietnam veterans also have something new to mark on March 29. In September 2026, state leaders presented a site for a statewide Vietnam veterans memorial on the Providence River. Read the full story: Rhode Island Vietnam veterans: 209 names and far too many more.
7 Powerful Ways to Honor Vietnam Veterans on March 29
National Vietnam War Veterans Day is only as strong as what people do with it. Seven ways to make it count:
1. Fly the flag
That is the letter of the law. Put the flag out on March 29 at home, at work and at your post.
2. Say “Welcome home”
It is the greeting Vietnam veterans use with each other. Hearing it from someone who was not there means more than most people realize.
3. Attend a local ceremony
A sparse crowd sends the wrong message. Show up at the State House or your town memorial, and bring your kids.
4. Record a veteran’s story
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project preserves first-person interviews. Sit down with a Vietnam veteran and a phone and get it on the record.
5. Help a veteran file for benefits
Many Vietnam veterans still have not filed for illnesses VA already links to herbicide exposure. Share our Agent Orange presumptive conditions guide.
6. Honor those who came home and later died
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s In Memory program honors Vietnam veterans whose deaths came after the war. Our guide explains how to apply through the In Memory program.
7. Support a lasting memorial
Ceremonies end at sundown. A memorial stands for generations. Help build Rhode Island’s through our donate page.
National Vietnam War Veterans Day vs. Veterans Day
The two are easy to confuse.
| National Vietnam War Veterans Day | Veterans Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | March 29 | Nov. 11 |
| Honors | Vietnam War veterans and their families | Everyone who served in the U.S. Armed Forces |
| Federal holiday | No | Yes |
| Flag day under 4 U.S.C. § 6(d) | Yes | Yes |
National Vietnam War Veterans Day Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Last U.S. combat troops withdraw from South Vietnam on March 29 |
| 2008 | National Defense Authorization Act authorizes a 50th anniversary commemoration program |
| 2012 | President Obama proclaims March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day and launches the commemoration on May 28 |
| 2017 | Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act signed March 28; Rhode Island passes § 25-2-20 |
| 2025 | Commemoration’s authorized period ends on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 |
| 2026 | Rhode Island presents a Providence River site for a statewide Vietnam veterans memorial |
The Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin
Many National Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremonies include a pinning. During the 50th anniversary commemoration, commemorative partners presented a lapel pin to living veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of location.
That last part surprises people. The pin honored the entire Vietnam era, not only those who deployed. Members of Congress, military bases and veterans posts held pinning ceremonies, often on March 29.
Ideas for Schools, Businesses and Posts
National Vietnam War Veterans Day works best when the whole community takes part. A few ideas that cost little and mean a lot:
- Schools: invite a Vietnam veteran to speak, or have students interview a relative who served.
- Businesses: fly the flag, offer a free coffee or meal to Vietnam veterans and post a thank you on social media.
- Veterans posts: host a Welcome Home breakfast and help members check their VA benefits.
- Churches: read the names of local veterans who have passed and ring a bell for each one.
- Families: pull out the photo albums and ask the questions you never asked.
Where to Find a National Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremony
Ceremonies are usually announced in February and March. In Rhode Island, start with the Office of Veterans Services events calendar, then check your city or town hall, your local American Legion and VFW posts and the Rhode Island State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Many military installations and VA medical centers also hold observances. If nothing is scheduled near you, organize something small: a flag, a few chairs at the town memorial and a reading of local names. Vietnam veterans notice who shows up.
When March 29 falls on a weekend or a religious holiday, some communities move their ceremony a day or two. In 2024, many Rhode Island events were held on March 28 because March 29 was Good Friday.
What We Still Don’t Know
As of Nov. 6, 2026, our staff could not confirm whether Congress has extended the national 50th anniversary commemoration program past its Nov. 11, 2025, end date. Bills to extend it were introduced in 2025.
The date of Rhode Island’s 2027 State House observance had not been posted. March 29, 2027, falls on a Monday.
Why This Matters
Vietnam veterans waited more than four decades for a permanent national day. Many came home to protest, silence or worse, and some never wore their uniform in public again.
National Vietnam War Veterans Day does not erase how they were treated. It does give the rest of us a fixed date on the calendar and no excuse to let it pass quietly. With most Vietnam veterans now in their late 70s and 80s, the window to thank them in person is closing.
Resources
- Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services: vets.ri.gov, 401-921-2119
- VA benefits line: 800-827-1000
- Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988, then press 1
Frequently Asked Questions About National Vietnam War Veterans Day
Is National Vietnam War Veterans Day a federal holiday?
No. It is a national day of recognition and a designated flag day under Title 4 of the U.S. Code, but government offices, banks and schools stay open.
Who signed National Vietnam War Veterans Day into law?
President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 on March 28, 2017. It became Public Law 115-15.
Why was March 29 chosen?
March 29, 1973, is the date the last U.S. combat troops withdrew from South Vietnam.
Does Rhode Island recognize Vietnam Veterans Day?
Yes. Rhode Island General Law § 25-2-20, passed in 2017, sets aside March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day, observed with exercises in public places.
Do you have to have served in Vietnam to be honored?
National Vietnam War Veterans Day honors Vietnam War veterans and their families. The 50th anniversary lapel pin went to every living veteran who served on active duty from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of where they served.
What is the best way to thank a Vietnam veteran?
Look them in the eye and say “Welcome home.” Then ask about their service and listen.
Sources
- GovInfo: Public Law 115-15, Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017
- Federal Register: Proclamation 8829, Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War
- Rhode Island General Assembly: Resolution on Vietnam Veterans Day
- Congress.gov: Vietnam Veteran Commemoration Fund Act of 2025 (H.R. 4045)
- Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services
Fly the flag on March 29, show up, and tell a Vietnam veteran “Welcome home.” We build legacies, not campaigns.
