Veterans Day Becomes Veterans Month Under New Law Ratified By DeSantis

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As a way to show appreciation for our veterans, House Bill 357 proposed to extend Veterans Day to last the entire month of November in Florida. Now each year, the Governor of Florida can declare every November to be Veterans Appreciation Month.

This proclamation must be issued annually. Counties, public schools, municipalities, and residents statewide are also encouraged to participate with events and special programs in appreciation of Veterans.

Initially, the bill intended to make Veterans Day into Veterans Appreciation Week, which would begin on November 11 of each year. Additionally, it had called “upon public officials, schools, private organizations, and all residents of the state to commemorate Veterans Week and honor the men and women who answered the call during times of war and peace to protect and preserve the treasured freedom of all citizens”.

House Bill 357 was originally prepared by the Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee, filed on November 7, 2023; and passed unanimously in the Senate and House with votes of 39-0 and 117-0, respectively. It was presented to Governor DeSantis on March 27, 2024, and he approved it on April 5, 2024.

This law is in effect as of July 1, 2024. If Governor DeSantis chooses, then this November could be Florida’s first Veterans Appreciation Month.

For complete details on this new law, click here to read both pages of House Bill 357. For the official summary of the bill, click here.
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Article by Ema Tibbetts