Observance guideSource-backed

Victory Day2026 · Date · History · Messages

Rhode Island General Laws §25-1-1 establishes Victory Day as a legal state holiday on the second Monday in August; current Rhode Island state calendars continue to publish the holiday, and the statute’s history includes a 1948 public-law enactment.

Moves by calendar ruleReviewed 2026-09-26Sensitive topic

About Victory Day

Victory Day is a Rhode Island state holiday observed on the second Monday in August. Rhode Island General Laws §25-1-1 lists Victory Day among the state’s legal holidays, and current state calendars use that name.

In 2026, the second Monday in August is August 10. This guide is scoped to Rhode Island; it should not be presented as a nationwide United States federal holiday.

Why Victory Day matters

The day is a civic remembrance holiday associated historically with the end of World War II. The current legal identity is simply Victory Day, so historical or colloquial labels should be clearly distinguished from the statutory name.

Because public discussion about the holiday can involve different historical memories and views, a neutral guide should focus on the law, documented history and respectful remembrance rather than advocacy for or against the observance.

History of Victory Day

Rhode Island’s current holiday statute lists Victory Day on the second Monday in August.

The statutory history attached to §25-1-1 includes Public Laws 1948, chapter 1995, section 1, providing a documented 1948 legal-history anchor for the holiday.

Rhode Island state agencies continue to publish Victory Day on current holiday calendars.

Institutional timeline

How the observance developed

This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.

  1. Establishment

    State of Rhode Island through its legislature

    Public Laws 1948, chapter 1995, section 1, as reflected in the statutory history of R.I. Gen. Laws §25-1-1

  2. Current stewardship

    State of Rhode Island

    Rhode Island law recognizes the holiday and state agencies publish current holiday calendars.

Origins & establishment

What the evidence establishes

Evidence & sources ↓

Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.

Proclaiming / establishing bodyState of Rhode Island through its legislatureRhode Island General Laws §25-1-1 and its statutory history establish the holiday in state law.
Original establishing instrument / decisionPublic Laws 1948, chapter 1995, section 1, as reflected in the statutory history of R.I. Gen. Laws §25-1-1The current statute’s historical notes provide the 1948 public-law anchor.
Original instrument adoption / decision date1948The statutory history identifies the 1948 enactment year; no more precise adoption date is asserted here.
Current facilitator / coordinatorState of Rhode IslandRhode Island law recognizes the holiday and state agencies publish current holiday calendars.
Why this exact date?Second Monday in August under Rhode Island General Laws §25-1-1The current statute fixes the recurrence rule; it does not state a separate symbolic reason for choosing that Monday.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Originator / proposerThe reviewed legal and state-calendar sources do not identify a single individual proposer or founder.
First observanceThe reviewed sources do not establish the first public observance as a discrete event.
Former nameLater legislative proposals discuss historical/colloquial V-J terminology, but the reviewed current law does not establish that as a formal former statutory name for this record.
Former dateNo formal former annual date is established in the reviewed sources.
Source qualityHigh confidence
2 Primary institutional / legal1 Official organizer
View all sources ↓
Names

Also known as

Victory Day USA, VJ Day, V-J Day, Victory over Japan Day

How to Observe Victory Day

01

Check Rhode Island government calendars for office closures or service changes before making plans.

02

Use museum, archive or public-history resources to learn about the end of World War II and the experiences of service members and civilians.

03

If marking the day publicly, use language that respects different communities’ historical experiences and distinguishes documented facts from opinion.

04

Do not assume the Rhode Island holiday schedule applies to federal agencies, private employers or other states.

Victory Day Facts

Fact 01

Victory Day is a legal Rhode Island state holiday.

Fact 02

Its current recurrence is the second Monday in August.

Fact 03

The 2026 date is August 10.

Fact 04

The Rhode Island statute’s historical notes include a 1948 public-law enactment.

Fact 05

It is not a U.S. federal holiday.

Victory Day Messages

Wishing Rhode Islanders a thoughtful and respectful Victory Day.

May Victory Day be an opportunity to remember history with care and respect.

May today encourage reflection on the people and events connected with the end of World War II.

Wishing everyone observing Victory Day a meaningful day of remembrance.

Classification

Topic and context

Civic, Remembrance & History →
Accuracy notes

What this page does not assume

  • Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
  • Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
  • Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
  • Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence

Evidence & sources

Source policy →

Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.

Source 01

Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training — Legal Holidays

Primary institutional / legal
Source 02

Rhode Island General Laws §25-1-1

Primary institutional / legal
Source 03

Rhode Island Secretary of State — State Holidays

Official organizer
Questions & connections

Understand it, compare it, then explore further

Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.

Reader questions

Frequently asked questions

When is Victory Day?

Second Monday in August; 10 August 2026 The documented recurrence rule is: Second Monday in August.

Does Victory Day fall on the same date every year?

It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.

Is Victory Day an official public holiday?

The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Rhode Island, United States / state holiday. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.

Who established or recognizes Victory Day?

The reviewed sources identify State of Rhode Island through its legislature as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as State of Rhode Island.

Is Victory Day international or country-specific?

This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: Rhode Island, United States / state holiday.

How is this page verified?

The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-26.

When is Victory Day in Rhode Island?

It is observed on the second Monday in August; in 2026 that is August 10.

Is Victory Day a federal U.S. holiday?

No. This guide covers the Rhode Island state holiday.

What is the legal name?

Rhode Island’s current statute lists the holiday as Victory Day.

When was the Rhode Island holiday established?

The statutory history for the current holiday provision includes a 1948 public-law enactment. The reviewed sources do not establish a single first-ever public celebration.

Explore further

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