Fact 1
Veterans Day is an official United States holiday that celebrates veterans who served in any U. S. Armed Forces.
Fact 2
Veterans Day is observed on November 11. This is a significant date. It is the anniversary of the end of World War I in which fighting ended on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour in 1918 (November 11, 1918, at 11:00).
Fact 3
Timeline of Armistice
- President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11, 1919, a holiday to honor the end of the fighting between the Allies and Germany ending World War I.
- On June 4, 1926, Congress passed a resolution making Armistice Day a holiday.
- On May 13, 1938, Congress passed an act making Armistice Day a legal holiday.
- After World War II ended in 1945, Raymond Weeks suggested that Armistice Day be changed to honor all veterans, not just those fighting in World War I.
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law on May 26, 1954, formally changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
Fact 4
To give federal employees a three-day weekend, this holiday was changed from November 11 to the fourth Monday in October from 1971 to 1978. The change was moved back to November 11 to honor this significant date in American history.
Fact 5
The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument in Arlington Cemetery dedicated to soldiers who have died in wars with their remains being unidentified.
Fact 6 – American Wars
- Revolutionary War
- War of 1812
- Mexican War
- Civil War
- Spanish American War
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Persian Gulf War
- Afghanistan War
- Iraq War
Fact 7
The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest military award in the United States. It is given to men and women who show actions that are above and beyond the call of duty in combat. It was first awarded on March 25, 1863. Approximately 3,450 people have received this award.
Fact 8
Disney made films during World War II for each branch of the United States government.
Fact 9
Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars have a higher unemployment rate (9.9%) over the American population (7.7%), according to a March 2013 release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Working veterans’ median income was $35,367. This is higher than that of the U.S. population which was $25,605.
Fact 10
Veterans
|
Breakdown of 21.9 million military veterans in the U.S. in 2009 |
War |
Voters |
Education |
| 2.3 million African American |
7.6 million (Vietnam) ~ 35% |
71% of all veterans |
25% |
| 1.1 million Hispanic |
4.5 million (Gulf War) |
63% of non-veterans |
92% at least a high school diploma |
| 1.5 million females |
World War II
2.3 |
||
| 9.2 million > 65 years old |
Korean War
2.7 |
||
| 1.9 million < 35 years old |
Sources of Information
- Fact Monster
- Working Moms – Veterans Day
- Soft School – Veterans Day Facts
- Veterans Day Fast Facts
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