Veterans Day is a public holiday in East Timor (Timor-Leste), and it is observed on March 3 each year. The holiday commemorates those who fought for independence during the Indonesian occupation.
Memorial Day is a holiday in honor of those who lost their lives resisting the Indonesian occupation, while Veterans Day commemorates those who served during the struggle.
East Timor became a Portuguese colony in 1702. During World War II, it was occupied by Australian and Dutch forces in 1941 and Japanese forces in 1942. Portuguese control was reinstated when the war ended, but the Portuguese abandoned the territory in 1974 following the Carnation Revolution.
On November 28, 1975, the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) declared independence from Portugal. However, only nine days after, the Indonesian military occupied East Timor on December 7, 1975.
The Indonesian occupation lasted 24 years, and the period was marked by violence and brutality, with approximately 200,000 people dying of massacre, hunger, and illness. In 1999, the United Nation took over the administration, and 3 years after, the Democratic Republic of East Timor became an independent nation.
The following is the list of Veterans Day in East Timor (Timor-Leste) from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Day | Mar 03, 2022 | Thursday |
| Veterans Day | Mar 03, 2023 | Friday |
| Veterans Day | Mar 03, 2024 | Sunday |
| Veterans Day | Mar 03, 2025 | Monday |
| Veterans Day | Mar 03, 2026 | Tuesday |
Please check more public holidays in East Timor (Timor-Leste):