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. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
Veterans Today
The military men and women who serve and protect the U.S. come from all walks of life; they are parents, children, grandparents, friends, neighbors and coworkers, and are an important part of their communities. Here are some facts about the veteran population of the United States:
· In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
· In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by Congress, which moved the celebration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. The law went into effect in 1971, but in 1975 President Gerald Ford returned Veterans Day to November 11, due to the important historical significance of the date.
· Veterans Day commemorates veterans of all wars. Quoted by the History Chanel
18.2 million living veterans served during at least one war as of 2018.
· 9 percent of veterans are women.
· 7 million veterans served during the Vietnam War.
· 3 million veterans have served in support of the War on Terrorism.
· Of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II, about 496,777 were still alive as of 2018.
· Connecticut was home to the highest percentage of World War II veterans as of 2018 at 7.1 percent.
· 2 million veterans served during the Korean War.
· As of 2017, the top three states with the highest percentage of Veterans were Alaska, Maine and Montana, respectively.
