‘Armistice 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 making it an annual observance, and it became a national holiday in 1938.
Sixteen years later, then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name to Veterans Day to honor all those who served their country during war or peacetime. On this day, the nation honors military veterans — living and dead — with parades and other observances across the country and a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
16.5 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2021.
1.7 million
The number of female veterans in the United States in 2021.
1.9%
The percentage of veterans in 2021 who were Asian American. Additionally, 73.0% of veterans were non-Hispanic White; 8.2% Hispanic or Latino (of any race); 12.3% African American; 0.7% American Indian or Alaska Native; 0.2% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and 2.7% were some other race. (The numbers include only those reporting a single race.)
24.4%
The percentage of veterans ages 75 and older in 2021. At the other end of the age spectrum, 8.2% of veterans were younger than age 35.
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— Courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau
