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Veterans Day 2008: Nov. 11
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: 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
When They Served
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 bachelor's 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
$32,217
Earnings for women veterans, higher than the $27,272 for women civilians
with no military experience.
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
$42,128
Earnings for male veterans, higher than the $39,880 for 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
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 2006 <
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 of Veteran-Owned Businesses: 2002and
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
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