Facts that May Surprise You About U.S. Veterans on
Their Day in 2008
U.S. Census Bureau comes up with some interesting
facts about military veterans
Nov.
11, 2008 - Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919,
the first anniversary of 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 has evolved into also honoring living
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 Virginia.
23.6 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2007. Source: Table 502, Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 2009
Female Veterans
1.8 million
The number of female veterans in 2007. Source: Source: Table 502,
Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009
16% Percentage of Gulf War veterans in 2007 who were women. Source: Table 503, Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 2009
Race and Hispanic Origin
2.4 million The number of black veterans in 2007. Additionally, 1.1
million veterans were Hispanic; 278,000 were Asian; 165,000 were
American Indian or Alaska Native; 27,000 were Native Hawaiian or Other
Pacific Islander; and 18.7 million were non-Hispanic white. (The numbers
for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native
Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and non-Hispanic whites cover
only those reporting a single race.) Source: 2007 American Community
Survey
9.3 million The number of veterans 65 and older in 2007. At the other end
of the age spectrum, 1.9 million were younger than 35. Source: Table 503, Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 2009
7.9 million Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2007. Thirty-three percent
of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition,
5 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2,
1990, to present); 2.9 million in World War II (1941-1945); 3 million in
the Korean War (1950-1953); and 6.1 million in peacetime. Source: Table 503, Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 2009
358,000 In 2007, number of living veterans who served during both the
Vietnam and Gulf War eras.
Other living veterans in 2007 who served during two
or more wars:
315,000 served during both the Korean and
Vietnam wars.
69,000 served during three periods: World
War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
263,000 served during World War II and the
Korean War.
Source: 2007
American Community Survey
Where They Live
5 Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2007.
These states are California (2.1 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas
(1.7 million),
New York (1.1 million) and Pennsylvania (1.1 million). Source: Table 502, Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 2009
Education
25% Percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelors
degree in 2007. Source: 2007 American Community
Survey
90% Percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma
or higher in 2007. Source: 2007 American Community
Survey
Income and Poverty
$36,053
Annual median income of veterans, in 2007 inflation-adjusted dollars.
Source: 2007 American Community
Survey
5.7% Percentage of veterans living in poverty, as of 2007. The
corresponding rate for nonveterans was 12 percent. Source: 2007 American Community
Survey
On
the Job
10.7 million Number of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2007. Source: 2007 American Community
Survey
Women veterans were more likely to work 35
or more hours per week (84.3 percent vs. 77.6 percent), to work at least
50 weeks per year
(73.1 percent vs. 71.6 percent) and to work in public administration (16
percent vs. 4.8 percent) than nonveterans. Source: Exploring the
Veteran-Nonveteran Earning Differential in the 2005 American Community
Survey
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/women/012062.html>
Disabilities
6 million Number of veterans with a disability. Source: 2007 American Community
Survey
Voting
17.4 million Number of veterans who voted in the 2004 presidential
election. Seventy-four percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with
63 percent of nonveterans. Source: Voting and Registration in
the Election of November 2004
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/006562.html>
14 million Number of veterans who voted in the 2006 congressional
election. Sixty-one percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 46
percent of nonveterans. Source: Voting and Registration in
the Election of November 2004
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/012234.html>
Business Owners
14.5% Percentage of owners of firms responding to the 2002 Survey
of Business Owners who were veterans. Veteran business owners comprised
an estimated 3 million of the 20.5 million owners represented by survey
respondents. Source: Characteristics of
Veteran-Owned Businesses: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/010337.html>
68% Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were 55
and older. This compares with 31 percent of all owners of respondent
firms. Similarly, in 2002, 55 percent of veteran-owned respondent firms
with employees reported that their businesses were originally
established, purchased or acquired before 1990, compared with 36 percent
of all employer respondent firms. Source: Characteristics Veteran-Owned
Businesses: 2002 and Characteristics of Veteran Business Owners: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/010337.html>
7% Percentage of veteran business owners of respondent firms who
were disabled as the result of injury incurred or aggravated during
active military service. Source: Characteristics Veteran-Owned
Businesses: 2002 and Characteristics of Veteran Business Owners: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/business_ownership/010337.html>
Benefits
2.7 million Number of veterans who received compensation for
service-connected disabilities as of 2006. Their compensation totaled
$28.2 billion. Source: Tables 505 and 506,
Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009
$72.8 billion Total amount of federal government spending for veterans
benefits programs in fiscal year 2006. Of this total, $34.6 billion went
to compensation and pensions, $33.7 billion for medical programs and the
remainder to other programs, such as vocational rehabilitation and
education. Source: Table 505, Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 2009
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Nov.
11, 2008 - Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919,
the first anniversary of 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. 
