"Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation and a remembrance ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The ceremony honors and thanks all who served in the U.S. armed forces.
The following facts are made possible by the invaluable responses to the U.S. Census Bureau’s surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we continuously measure America’s people, places and economy.
Veterans
18.5 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2016.
Source: 2016 American Community Survey https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_1YR/DP02
1.6 million
The number of female veterans in the United States in 2016.
Source: 2016 American Community Survey https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_1YR/B21001
11.6%
The percentage of veterans in 2016 who were black. Additionally, 78.0 percent were non-Hispanic white, 1.6 percent were Asian, 0.7 percent were American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2 percent were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 1.3 percent were some other race. (The numbers for blacks, non-Hispanic whites, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and some other race cover only those reporting a single race.)
Source: 2016 American Community Survey https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_1YR/S2101
6.5%
The percentage of veterans in 2016 who were Hispanic.
Source: 2016 American Community Survey https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_1YR/S2101
9.2 million
The number of veterans age 65 and older in 2016. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.6 million were younger than age 35.
Source: 2016 American Community Survey https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_1YR/S2101
When They Served
6.7 million
The number of Vietnam Era veterans in 2016. Moreover, there were 7.1 million who served during the Gulf War (representing service from August 1990 to present); 768,263 who served in World War II; 1.6 million who served in the Korean War; and 2.4 million who served in peacetime only.
The number of living veterans in 2016 who served during three wartime periods:
· 65,562 served during the Vietnam Era and both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later).
· 25,703 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
The number of living veterans in 2016 who served during two wartime periods:
· 1,150,328 served during both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later).
· 285,649 served during the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001) and the Vietnam Era.
· 140,101 served during the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
· 56,105 served during World War II and the Korean War.
Sources: 2016 American Community Survey
https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_1YR/S2101
https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_1YR/B21002
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| Veterans Day facts from Census.gov |
This was shared from Census.gov
https://census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2017/nations-veterans.html
