11 Things to Remember This Veterans Day
Whether you know someone who served in the military or you have served yourself, Veterans Day is a holiday worth celebrating. According to United States Census BureauThere were 15.8 million military veterans in the country in 2023 — here are some things to remember when honoring them on November 11.
- Don’t confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day.
- Veterans Day had a different name.
- The history of Veterans Day holds historical significance.
- Fewer than 200,000 World War II veterans are still alive today.
- Not every veteran participated in a war.
- Three states have large veteran populations.
- Veterans tend to be well educated.
- Other countries honor their own versions of Veterans Day.
- Veterans are more likely to remain unhoused.
- Many veterans leave the armed forces due to mental health issues.
- You can support veterans any time of the year.
Don’t confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day.
Memorial Day (last Monday in May) and Veterans Day (November 11) both honor people who served in the U.S. military, but there is a big difference between the holidays. Memorial Day is dedicated to those who died while serving their country, while Veterans Day is a time to honor all veterans, both living and dead.
Veterans Day had a different name.
On November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson He issued the Armistice Day Proclamation – a reference to the agreement between the Allies and Germany to end World War I a year earlier. Congress officially declared Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938 (most states already had their own observances). In 1954 as president Dwight D. Eisenhower Legislation was signed that officially changed the name to Veterans Day, making the holiday more inclusive of veterans who served after and before World War I.
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The history of Veterans Day holds historical significance.
Although the date changed several times during the 20th century, Veterans Day falls on November 11 every year. The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary the end Of World War I, which occurred at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Fewer than 200,000 World War II veterans are still alive today.
World War II ended more than 75 years ago, but some of the war’s veterans are still with us. According to Latest estimates From the National World War II Museum, “45,418 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II are still alive as of 2025.” Many of these veterans are at least 90 years old.
Not every veteran participated in a war.
Military members do not need to fight overseas to serve their country. According to Pew Research CenterAs of 2023, approximately one-quarter of veterans living in the United States today served only in peacetime. Military missions that It does not involve war This may include protecting US embassies, providing natural disaster relief, and providing medical assistance to poor communities.
Three states have large veteran populations.
There are three US states with veteran populations exceeded 1 million As of 2020: California with 1.64 million, Texas with 1.57 million, and Florida with 1.14 million. The states with the highest percentage of veterans are Alaska, Virginia, Montana, Wyoming, Hawaii and Maine, where the number of veterans is about 10% of the adult population. These numbers still make up just a small portion of the country’s veterans, who can be found across the United States
Veterans tend to be well educated.
People who served in the military tend to complete higher levels of education than those who did not enlist. According to National Conference of State LegislaturesIn 2017, 37.1% of veterans in the United States completed some college or earned an associate’s degree and 27.7% earned at least a bachelor’s degree.
Other countries honor their own versions of Veterans Day.
Many countries have their own holidays honoring veterans and those who died in wars that fall on or around November 11. But the big day has a different name outside the United States: in Canada, it’s… Memorial DayMany people in the United Kingdom celebrate Remembrance Sunday and Remembrance Sunday Armistice Day.
Veterans are more likely to remain unhoused.
According to National Coalition for Homeless Veteransa study conducted in January 2024 revealed that “32,882 veterans were experiencing homelessness on a single night.” Compared to the overall veteran population, younger veterans are disproportionately likely to remain homeless, although there are people who served in a range of wars — including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Afghanistan and Iraq — living on the streets.
Many veterans leave the armed forces due to mental health issues.
Mental illnesses are occurring in veterans at an alarmingly high rate. According to Rand Center According to Military Health Policy Research, in 2008, nearly one-fifth of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan returned home with either major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. These problems can have many potential causes, but in a large portion of veterans, Traumatic brain injuries Maybe it was a major factor.
You can support veterans any time of the year.
From paying a veteran’s bill at your local restaurant or driving them to a doctor’s appointment, there are many small ways to show your gratitude to the veterans in your community. There are also plenty of charitable organizations dedicated to supporting veterans across the country. Here is a list Some veterans groups are looking for donations and volunteers.
A version of this story was originally published in 2018; Updated for 2025.
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