Posted November 10, 2017 | by KimS | in DemDaily, Resource

DemDaily: Service and Sacrifice: A Snapshot

November 10, 2017

Tomorrow we officially honor our veterans, past and present, for their service to our country.

In honor of those who have served, and still sacrifice, a snapshot:

In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I."

President Woodrow Wilson celebrated the first "Armistice Day" one year later and, in 1938, Congress declared November 11th a holiday "to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."

"Father of Veterans Day" Weeks presents petition to Eisenhower

In 1946, WW II vet Raymond Weeks led a successful drive to expand the day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in WWI.

With the support of then Army Chief of Staff, General Dwight Eisenhower, the first celebration was held in 1947, and in 1954 Congress officially changed Armistice Day to "Veterans Day."

The Stats
US Population: 18.5 million veterans in US
Female: 1.6 million
Over 65 years old: 9.2 million

Vietnam: 6.7 million
Gulf War: 7.1 million (August 1990 to present);
World War II: 768,263
Korean War: 1.6 million
Peacetime only: 2.4 million

Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service, and Armed Forces Day specifically honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.

The Other Stats

39,471 veterans are homeless

on any given night.

* 9% are female. 45% of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic.

* 9% are between age 18 to 30, and 41% are 31 to 50.
* The majority are single, live in urban areas, and suffer
from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse,
or co-occurring disorders.

* Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era.
* Two-thirds served our country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone.

Approximately 11% of the adult homeless population are veterans.

Say thanks to a veteran and pass this on!