FOR RELEASE: November 8, 2006

Saturday, November 11th, America celebrates Veterans Day. Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, marking the first anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1926, Congress passed a resolution 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.

Following is some data on the U. S. military, as compiled by the U. S. Census Bureau. The data are from the latest year available.

24.5 million: The number of military veterans in the United States in 2004.

1.7 million: The number of female veterans in 2004.

16 percent: The percentage of Persian Gulf War veterans in 2004 who were women.

2.4 million: The number of black veterans in 2005. Additionally, 1.1 million veterans are Hispanic, 293,000 are Asian, 170,000 are American Indian or Alaska Native, and 28,000 are Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

9.5 million: The number of veterans age 65 or older in 2004.

8.1 million: Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2004. Thirty-three percent of all veterans served in Vietnam.

3.9 million: Number of World War II veterans in 2004. Sixteen percent of all veterans served during World War II.

412,000: In 2005, number of living veterans who served during both the Vietnam era and in the Gulf War.

Other living veterans in 2005 who served in two or more wars:

1. 343,000 served during both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
2. 80,000 served during three periods: World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War.
3. 306,000 served in World War II and the Korean War.

Six states with 1 million or more veterans in 2004: California (2.3 million), Florida (1.8 million), Texas (1.7 million), New York (1.2 million), Pennsylvania (1.1 million) and Ohio (1.1 million).

1.1 million: Number of veterans enrolled in college, as of the 2001_2002 school year.

25%: Percent of veterans 25 years and over have at least a bachelor’s degree in 2005.

89%: Percent of veterans 25 years and over have a high school diploma or more in 2005.

$33,973: Annual median income of veterans, in 2005 inflation-adjusted dollars.

5.8%: Poverty rate for veterans, as of 2005.

11.3 million: Number of veterans ages 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2005.

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 non-vets.

14%: Percentage of business owners who were veterans, as of 2002. Seventy-three percent of these veteran owners operated with no paid employees.

7%: Percentage of veteran business owners who were disabled as a result of injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.

$22.4 billion: Aggregate amount received in fiscal year 2004 by the 2.6 million living veterans receiving compensation for service-connected disabilities.

$59.6 billion: Total amount of federal government spending for veterans benefits programs in fiscal year 2004.

Please keep in touch with me on issues that are important to you. You may write Congressman Virgil Goode, 70 East Court Street, Room 215, Rocky Mount, VA 24151; or fax to 1-540-484-1459; or call toll-free to the Danville office, 1-800-535-4008.