Community Corner
Veterans Day Fun Facts
From the number of total veterans, to a brief history of the holiday itself, the U.S Census Bureau provides a data-driven look at Veterans Day.
Happy Veterans Day!
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 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 Virginia.
Find out what's happening in Bolingbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Veterans by the Numbers
- 21.8 million military veterans in the United States in 2010
- 1.6 million female veterans in 2010
- 2.4 million black veterans in 2010
- 1.2 million Hispanic veterans in 2010
- 265,000 Asian veterans in 2010
- 156,000 American Indian or Alaska Native veterans in 2010
- 28,000 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander veterans in 2010
(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.)
When They Served
- 7.6 million Vietnam-era veterans in 2010. Thirty-five percent of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975)
- 4.8 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present)
- 2.1 million served in World War II (1941-1945)
- 2.6 million served in the Korean War (1950-1953)
- 5.5 million served in peacetime only
- 49,500 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:
Find out what's happening in Bolingbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- 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
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.