The first Veterans Day was celebrated on Nov. 11, 1919 – the first anniversary of the day which marked the end of World War I – but was then known as Armistice Day. In 1926, Congress passed a resolution for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. As a way to honor those who served in all American wars, in 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau:
- In 2017, there were 18.2 million military veterans in the United States.
- In 2017, there were 1.6 million female veterans in the United States.
- In 2017, 77.3% percent of veterans in the United States were non-Hispanic white, 11.8% were black, 6.9% were Hispanic, 1.6% were Asian, 0.8% were American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2% were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 1.4% were some other race (numbers cover only those reporting a single race).
- In 2017, 50% of veterans were age 65 and older. At the other end of the age spectrum, 8.9% were younger than age 35.
- In 2017, 28.8% of veterans had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Over 400,000 veterans live in New Jersey.
- About 9% of Cape May County’s population is veterans – the highest percentage of veteran population in the state.
- The majority of veterans in New Jersey served in the Vietnam War.
