Veterans Day 2014

Washington, D.C. – 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. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

 

 

Number of military veterans in the United States in 2013.

 

Number of female veterans in the United States in 2013.

 

Percent of veterans in 2013 who were black. Additionally, 79.3% were non-Hispanic white; 1.4% were Asian; 0.7% were American Indian or Alaska Native; 0.2% were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; 1.2% 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.)

 

Percent of veterans in 2013 who were Hispanic.

 

Number of veterans 65 years and older in 2013. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.6 million were younger than 35.

 

 

Number of veterans 18 to 64 years old in the labor force in 2013, of those 7.1 million were employed.

 

 

Number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating in 2013. Of this number, 957,504 had a rating of 70% or higher. A "service-connected" disability is one that was a result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Severity of one's disability is scaled from 0% to 100%, and eligibility for compensation depends on one's rating.