Veterans Day 2014

Data from Census Bureau: Facts for Features

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.

Veterans

19.6 million

Number of military veterans in the United States in 2013.
Source: 2013 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/DP02>

1.6 million

Number of female veterans in the United States in 2013.
Source: 2013 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/B21001>

11.3%

Percent of veterans in 2013 who were black. Additionally, 79.3 percent were non-Hispanic white; 1.4 percent were Asian; 0.7 percent were American Indian or Alaska Native; 0.2 percent were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; 1.2 percent 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.)
Source: 2013 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/S2101>

6.0%

Percent of veterans in 2013 who were Hispanic.
Source: 2013 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/S2101>

9.3 million

Number of veterans 65 years and older in 2013. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.6 million were younger than 35.
Source: 2013 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_1YR/B21001>