COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio lawmaker is seeking to designate November as Veterans Month, aiming to give communities across the state more time to honor Ohio’s 700,000 veterans.
House Bill 576, introduced by Rep. Riordan McClain, a Republican from Upper Sandusky, would amend state law to recognize November as Veterans Month “to encourage the observance of events recognizing the contributions of Ohio veterans,” according to the bill text. The measure received its first hearing Nov. 19 before the House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
Ohio law currently recognizes Veterans Day on Nov. 11 as a legal holiday. McClain told the committee that extending the recognition to the entire month would allow communities, schools and civic groups to highlight veterans’ stories beyond a single day.
McClain said he was inspired to propose the legislation after attending a veterans event in Bucyrus. With the United States approaching its 250th anniversary in 2026, he said the timing underscores the importance of reflecting on the contributions of service members throughout the nation’s history.
“What has been constant through the years is that there have been men and women willing and able to answer the call of their time to preserve this great nation,” McClain said during the hearing. “We call many of those men and women veterans.”
McClain cited Ohio’s long military history, noting the state has the nation’s seventh-largest veteran population and is home to 32,000 active-duty personnel. He referenced contributions from Ohioans dating to the Revolutionary War and highlighted the state’s involvement in major conflicts, including the Civil War, World Wars I and II, and the Vietnam War.
He also pointed to Ohio institutions such as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
The bill would not alter existing holidays such as Veterans Day, Labor Day or Columbus Day, which are already recognized under current state law.
“November belongs to our warriors,” McClain said. “By creating Veterans Month, we can include 30 days to tell our veterans they are not forgotten and that our obligation to them endures. Thirty days to tell their stories so that future generations do not forget. Thirty days to say thank you.”
House Bill 576 awaits further committee hearings.
