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Facts for Veterans Day 2005
Nov. 11, 2005 - Veterans Day
originated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1918. Its purpose: to
commemorate the end of World War I. First proclaimed by Congress in
1926, and each year thereafter, Armistice Day became Veterans Day in
1954 as a result of legislation signed by President Dwight D.
Eisenhower. The name was changed to honor all who served the nation in
wars or conflicts. Veterans Day has been observed annually on this date
since 1978, except for a brief period when it was celebrated on the
fourth Monday of October.
24.5 million
The number of military veterans in the United States.
(From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2006.)
1.7 million
The number of veterans who are women.
(From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2006.)
9.5 million
The number of veterans who are age 65 or older.
(From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2006.)
2.3 million
The number of black veterans. Additionally, 1.1 million veterans are
Hispanic; 276,000 are Asian; 185,000 are American Indian or Alaska
native; and 25,000 are native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander. (The
numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska natives and
native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders cover only those reporting
a single race.) (From the
AmericanFactFinder.)
8.2 million
Number of Vietnam-era veterans. More than 30 percent of all veterans
served in Vietnam, the largest share of any period of service. The next
largest share of wartime veterans, 3.9 million or fewer than 20 percent,
served during World War II.
(From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2006.)
16%
Percentage of Persian Gulf War veterans who are women. In contrast,
women account for 5 percent of World War II vets, 3 percent of Vietnam
vets and 2 percent of Korean War vets. (From the upcoming Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 2006.)
432,000
Number of veterans who served during both the Vietnam era and in the
Gulf War.
In addition,
● 383,000 veterans
served during both the Korean War and the Vietnam conflict.
● 107,000 served
during three periods: World War II, the Korean War and the
Vietnam conflict.
● 376,000 served in
World War II and the Korean War.
(Source:
AmericanFactFinder.)
6
Number of states with 1 million or more veterans. These states are
California (2.3 million), Florida (1.8 million), Texas (1.7 million),
New York (1.2 million), Pennsylvania (1.1 million) and Ohio (1.1
million).
(From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2006.)
$22.4 billion
Aggregate amount of money received annually by the 2.6 million veterans
receiving compensation for service-connected disabilities.
(From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2006.)
$59.6 billion
Total amount of federal government spending for veterans benefits
programs in fiscal year 2004. (From the upcoming Statistical Abstract of
the United States: 2006.)
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