National Invest In Veterans Week® Establishes International Veterans Day and Deepens Federal, State, and Civic Integration
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
In a historic expansion of its global mission, National Invest In Veterans Week® has inaugurated International Veterans Day, celebrated for the first time on March 3, 2025. Introduced quietly in 2024 and formally recognized this year, the observance was embraced by organizations such as The American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13 in Florida, marking a significant leap in transnational veteran solidarity.
"International Veterans Day transcends national boundaries, allowing us to celebrate the shared values of service members globally, recognize the interconnected nature of peace and security, and foster unity among veterans from different countries."
Chosen for its historical symbolism and universal themes of preparedness and resilience, March 3rd serves as a unifying call to honor military veterans worldwide. It is a deliberate act of civic diplomacy, recognizing the moral and strategic imperatives of acknowledging service that knows no borders.
#InternationalVeteransDay #GlobalVeterans #VeteransUnited #MilitaryService #WorldwideHonor
National Invest In Veterans Week® Continues Ascendance: From Senate Newsletters to Congressional Record
As National Invest In Veterans Week® (March 1–7) concludes its latest cycle, its influence permeates multiple levels of government. Pennsylvania State Senator Devlin Robinson, a Marine Corps veteran, highlighted the week in his legislative e-newsletter:
"National Invest in Veterans Week reminds us of the importance of giving back to those who sacrificed so much for our freedom."
His office’s monthly outreach collaboration with the American Legion further reinforces the initiative’s real-world utility: veteran recognition meets constituent action.
This public statement reinforces the initiative's core doctrine: that military service constitutes a lifelong investment in the civic fabric of a nation—an investment deserving reciprocal economic and legislative infrastructure.
From Grassroots Campaign to Federal Canon
Founded in 2019, National Invest In Veterans Week® transitioned from a visionary grassroots concept to a federally trademarked framework (U.S. Reg. No. 6784776), now firmly embedded in national dialogue.
Its language and mission have entered the Congressional Record on two occasions:
May 24, 2023 — Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) delivered a floor speech titled "Investing in Our Veterans" (Vol. 169, No. 88, Page H2588):
"Investing in our brave veterans while helping the communities that need it most should be our highest priority."
Though indirect, the thematic alignment with the initiative’s trademarked language was unmistakable.March 8, 2024 — Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) explicitly cited Invest in Veterans Week (Vol. 170, No. 42, Page H1049):
"Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate this week as Invest in Veterans Week as proclaimed by Montana Governor Gianforte."
These two entries reflect both rhetorical and legislative adoption—turning words into policy-shaping mechanisms.
Digital Endorsements: The Initiative Resonates Online
Social media has amplified the initiative's reach. On Facebook:
Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) wrote:
"March 1–7 is National Invest in Veterans Week. We owe our veterans, including the 39,000 in the Sixth District, a debt of gratitude."
His post received over 120 reactions, showcasing widespread public support.
The Illinois House Democratic Caucus also joined the conversation with a 27-second video:
"As we recognize National Invest in Veterans Week, let’s come together..."
These digital affirmations add a layer of democratic validation to the initiative’s bipartisan foundation.
State-Level Endorsement: Montana Sets the Civic Standard
Montana has institutionalized the observance through three consecutive gubernatorial proclamations (2023, 2024, 2025), issued by Governor Greg Gianforte:
"I do hereby proclaim the week of March 1–7, 2025, as ‘Invest in Veterans Week’ in Montana to support our veterans and their investment in our communities."
With one of the nation’s highest per capita veteran populations, Montana’s continued leadership underscores how local governance can become a national bellwether for veteran policy.
Visionaries Behind the Movement
National Invest In Veterans Week® was co-founded by Lt. Col. Rickey L. Pope (Ret.), NFL veteran Drayton Florence, and Iraq War veteran Jeff Shuford. Each brought distinct experience, yet shared a singular goal: to recast veterans not as recipients of charity, but as pillars of economic and civic strength.
The initiative's expansion into digital infrastructure—including a Progressive Web App and a portfolio of veteran-branded state domains—demonstrates its operational maturity and scalability.
Institutional Vocabulary: A Language Now Legislated
Phrases like "Invest in Veterans" and "Investing in Our Veterans" have become fixtures in public policy dialogue. No figure illustrates this more clearly than Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21), who has invoked these terms while supporting the Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act and advocating for VA modernization.
What began as advocacy language now functions as legislative shorthand.
Conclusion: From Observance to Infrastructure
The acknowledgment of National Invest In Veterans Week® by Senator Devlin Robinson, Congressman Glenn Grothman, the Illinois House Democratic Caucus, and entries in the Congressional Record, alongside multiple state-level proclamations and now a global observance in the form of International Veterans Day, affirms a remarkable achievement: the institutionalization of a veteran-focused civic doctrine across governmental, geographic, and generational lines.
This initiative is no longer aspirational. It is architectural.
