Veterans Honored Today in U.S. Include Over 4.5 Million from WWII, Korean War
Youngest of these warriors would be about 75 years old
in 2011 - free walking cane for vets - see offer below
Nov. 11, 2011 Today the U.S.
honors 21.8 million military veterans and well over 4.5 million of these are senior citizens. Among the U.S. veterans living in 2010 - 2.1
million served in World War II (1941-1945) and 2.6 million in the Korean War (1950-1953). The youngest of these would be approximately 75
years old.
A national ceremony takes
place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and these veterans will be honored with parades and speeches
across the nation.
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 number of military veterans in the United States in 2010.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
1.6 million
The number of female veterans in 2010.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
2.4 million
The number of black veterans in 2010. Additionally, 1.2 million veterans were Hispanic; 265,000 were
Asian; 156,000 were American Indian or Alaska Native; 28,000 were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and 17.5 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: 2010 American Community Survey
9 million
The number of veterans 65 and older in 2010. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.7 million were
younger than 35.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
When They Served
7.6 million
Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2010. Thirty-five percent of all living veterans served during this
time (1964-1975). In addition, 4.8 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 2.1 million in
World War II (1941-1945); 2.6 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 5.5 million in peacetime only.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
Folding canes are free of charge at all Sams Club stores Nov. 9-11, while supply lasts
Oct. 28, 2011 U.S. Military veterans in need of some mobility assistance will be honored this Veterans Day in a
national program in which 36,000 state of the art folding canes will be given free of charge to these veterans. Hugo Salutes Our Veterans
will give out Hugo Folding Canes to veterans at all U.S. Sams Club locations nationwide from November 9, 2011 through Veterans Day, November
11, 2011. Read more...
49,500
Number of living veterans in 2010 who served during the Vietnam era and both Gulf War eras and no
other period. Other living veterans in 2010 who served during three wars:
54,000 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam era.
Living veterans in 2010 who served during two wars and no other period:
837,000 served during both Gulf War eras.
211,000 served during both the Korean War and the Vietnam era.
147,000 served during both World War II and the Korean War.
Source: 2010 American
Community Survey
Where They Live
3
Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2010. These states were California (2 million),
Florida (1.6 million) and Texas (1.6 million).
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
14.1
Percent of people 18 and older in Alaska who were veterans in 2010. The percent of the 18 and older
population who were veterans was 12 percent or more in Maine, Montana, Virginia and Wyoming.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
Education
26%
Percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelor's degree in 2010. In comparison, 28 percent
of the total population had a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
92%
Percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2010, compared with 86
percent of the population as a whole.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
Income
$35,367
Annual median income of veterans, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, compared with $25,605 for the
population as a whole.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
On the Job
9.6 million
Number of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2010.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
Disabilities
26%
Percent of veterans for whom poverty status is determined with a disability in 2010.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
3.4 million
Number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating. Of this number, 698,000 have a rating
of 70 percent or higher. Severity of one's disability is scaled from 0 to 100 percent and eligibility for compensation depends on one's
rating.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey
Voting
15.8 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2008 presidential election. Seventy-one percent of veterans cast
a ballot in the presidential election.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of
November 2008
<http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/index.html>
12.4 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2010 congressional election. Fifty-seven percent of veterans
voted in the 2010 congressional election.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of
November 2010
<http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/index.html>
Business Owners
9%
Percentage of all U.S. nonfarm firms that are majority owned by veterans. Veteran-owned firms
comprised an estimated 2.4 million of the 27.1 million nonfarm businesses nationwide in 2007.
Source: Survey of Business Owners: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo>
75%
Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were 55 or older in 2007. This compares with 37
percent of all owners of respondent firms. Similarly, in 2007, 56 percent of veteran-owned respondent firms with employees reported that their
businesses were originally established before 1990. This compares with 39 percent of all employer respondent firms.
Source: Survey of Business Owners: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo>
8%
Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were disabled as the result of injury incurred
or aggravated during active military service.
Source: Survey of Business Owners: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo>
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Nov. 11, 2011 Today the U.S.
honors 21.8 million military veterans and well over 4.5 million of these are senior citizens. Among the U.S. veterans living in 2010 - 2.1
million served in World War II (1941-1945) and 2.6 million in the Korean War (1950-1953). The youngest of these would be approximately 75
years old.