There are approximately 21 million military veterans in the United States, according to History. Today we come together as a nation to honor the sacrifices made by those who serve and their families. While we take pause to thank the brave men and women of our armed forces, we wanted to share some interesting history and statistics about Veterans Day.
A History of Significance
Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day and started on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. In this black and white picture you'll see a crowd of thousands gathered on Broad Street in New York, near a replica of the Statue of Liberty, to cheer as news of the armistice was announced to the public.
It wasn’t until 1954 that President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to change the name to Veterans Day to honor the heroism of all those who served in all American wars. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill passed which moved the celebration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. The law went into effect in 1971, but lasted only four years until President Ford returned the holiday to its original date due to the historical significance.
Facts About Our Veterans
A lot of brave men and women have served our country in times of war and peace. Below is a look at our nation’s veterans by the numbers:
Million veterans are over the age of 65
Million veterans are women
Sates are home to more than one million veterans: California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania
Thank You to Our Veterans
Foster & Houston wants to take a moment to thank those who have made the selfless and courageous decision to stand up to protect our country, our families, our rights, and our freedoms.