Each year on November 11th, we take time to honor those who have served in the military, as well as those who are currently in the service. Veterans Day is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, and marks the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.
We have observed Veterans Day with parades, speeches, and patriotic celebrations since its inception in 1919. Author of the article, “Interesting Veterans Day Facts” Katherine Lewis, lists the following Veterans Day statistics:
Facts and Information:
In 2008 there were 23.2 million military veterans in the U.S. Of those:
- 1.9 million were under the age of 35
- 1.8 million were female
- 9.2 million were 65 or older
- 1.1 million were Hispanic
- 2.3 million were black
Veterans by the War
A third of all living veterans served during the Vietnam War. In 2008, there were:
- 7.8 million Vietnam-era veterans. (1964-1975)
- 5.2 million Gulf War veterans. Of these, 16% were women. (August 1990 to present)
- 2.6 million World War II veterans. (1941-1945)
- 2.8 million Veterans of the Korean War. (1950-1953)
- 50,000 veterans of both the Vietnam and Gulf War eras.
We celebrate and honor veterans of the past, but make sure you thank a living veteran and try to attend a parade or celebration in your community! It really does mean a lot to them!