Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day,” which commemorated the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. Proclaimed by Congress each year starting in 1926, Armistice Day became “Veterans Day” in 1954 as a result of legislation signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The intention of the name change was to honor all of those who served the nation in wars or conflicts. Veterans Day has been observed annually on this date since 1978, following a brief period of observance on the fourth Monday of October.

Who Do We Celebrate Today?
26.4 million
The number of military veterans in the United States; this is a ratio of about 1-in-8 (or 13 percent) of U.S. civilians 18 and over. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

1.6 million
The number of veterans who are women. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

In the most recent period of service (August 1990 or later), women accounted for nearly 16 percent of all veterans. In contrast, women make up about 4 percent of World War II veterans and 2 percent of Korean War veterans. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

9.7 million
The number of veterans who are age 65 or over.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

57.4
Median age of the nation’s veterans.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

2.6 million
The number of black veterans. Additionally, 1.1 million are Hispanic, 284,000 are Asian and 196,000 are American Indian or Alaska native. (The numbers for blacks, Asians, and American Indians or Alaska natives cover only those reporting a single race.) <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

Vietnam-era veterans account for the largest share of all veterans, about 3-in-10. The next largest share, about 2-in-10, served during World War II. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

Where Do They Live?
7
Number of states with 1 million or more veterans. These states include California (2.6 million), Florida (1.9 million), Texas (1.8 million), New York (1.4 million), Pennsylvania (1.3 million), Ohio (1.1 million) and Illinois (1.0 million). <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

17
Percentage of Alaska civilians 18 and over who are veterans, the highest rate in the country. Veterans account for about 16 percent of the adult population in Montana, Nevada, Wyoming and Maine. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

27
Percentage of Hampton, Va., adult civilian residents who are military veterans. Hampton, near the country’s largest naval station at Norfolk, has the highest concentration of veterans of any place with 100,000 or more residents. Clarksville, Tenn. (near Fort Campbell, Ky.), and Fayetteville, N.C. (home of Fort Bragg), followed closely. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

The highest concentrations of Korean War and World War II veterans tend to be in retirement areas of Florida, Arizona or California, as well as other places with warm climates.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

Poverty
5.6
The poverty rate for veterans, much lower than the 10.9 percent of the adult population in general in poverty. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

Disabilities
Almost 3-in-10 veterans have disabilities. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-83.html>

$18.5 billion
Aggregate amount of money received annually by the 2.4 million veterans receiving compensation for service-connected disabilities. (These figures came from the soon-to-be-released Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2003.)

Note: For Census 2000 data products, a “civilian veteran” is a person 18 years old and over who, at the time of the enumeration, had been on active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard in the past (even for a short time), but was not then on active duty, or who had served in the Merchant Marine during World War II.