Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation.
A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
The Census Bureau collected data about the day.
Veterans
21.8 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2010.
1.6 million
The number of female veterans in 2010.
2.4 million
The number of black veterans in 2010. Additionally, 1.2 million veterans were Hispanic; 265,000 were Asian; 156,000 were American Indian or Alaska Native; 28,000 were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and 17.5 million were non-Hispanic white. (The numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and non-Hispanic whites cover only those reporting a single race.)
9 million
The number of veterans 65 and older in 2010. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.7 million were younger than 35.
When they served
7.6 million
Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2010. Thirty-five percent of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition, 4.8 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 2.1 million in World War II (1941-1945); 2.6 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 5.5 million in peacetime only.
49,500
Number of living veterans in 2010 who served during the Vietnam era and both Gulf War eras and no other period.
Other living veterans in 2010 who served during three wars:
• 54,000 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam era.
Living veterans in 2010 who served during two wars and no other period:
• 837,000 served during both Gulf War eras.
• 211,000 served during both the Korean War and the Vietnam era.
• 147,000 served during both World War II and the Korean War.
Where they live
3
Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2010. These states were California (2 million), Florida (1.6 million) and Texas (1.6 million).
14.1
Percent of people 18 and older in Alaska who were veterans in 2010. The percent of the 18 and older population who were veterans was 12 percent or more in Maine, Montana, Virginia and Wyoming.
Education
26 percent
Percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree in 2010. In comparison, 28 percent of the total population had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
92 percent
Percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2010, compared with 86 percent of the population as a whole.
Income
$35,367
Annual median income of veterans, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, compared with $25,605 for the population as a whole.
9.6 million
Number of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2010.
Disabilities
26 percent
Percent of veterans for whom poverty status is determined with a disability in 2010.
3.4 million
Number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating. Of this number, 698,000 have a rating of 70 percent or higher. Severity of one’s disability is scaled from 0 to 100 percent and eligibility for compensation depends on one’s rating.
Voting
15.8 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2008 presidential election. Seventy-one percent of veterans cast a ballot in the presidential election.
12.4 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2010 congressional election. Fifty-seven percent of veterans voted in the 2010 congressional election.
Business owners
9 percent
Percentage of all U.S. nonfarm firms that are majority owned by veterans. Veteran-owned firms comprised an estimated 2.4 million of the 27.1 million nonfarm businesses nationwide in 2007.
75 percent
Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were 55 or older in 2007.
This compares with 37 percent of all owners of respondent firms.
Similarly, in 2007, 56 percent of veteran-owned respondent firms with employees reported that their businesses were originally established before 1990.
This compares with 39 percent of all employer respondent firms.
8 percent
Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were disabled as the result of injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.
City closings for Veterans Day
Most city government offices and facilities will be closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day.
Closures include:
• City Hall at St. James, 117 W. Duval St.
• Ed Ball Building, 214 N. Hogan St.
• Jake M. Godbold City Hall Annex, 407 N. Laura St.
• Yates Building, 231 E. Forsyth St. The building houses the Office of the Tax Collector and the Office of the Property Appraiser. All tax collector branch offices also will be closed.
• Duval County Courthouse, 330 E. Bay St.
• Supervisor of Elections main office, 105 E. Monroe St., and branch office, 5200-2 Norwood Ave.
• Animal Care and Protective Services, 2020 Forest St.
• Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department administrative offices, 515 N. Julia St.
• Recreation and Community Services Department offices, 214 N. Hogan St.
• All community and senior centers and gymnasiums managed by the Recreation and Community Services Department.
• Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park Nature Center, 7000 Roosevelt Blvd.
• Victim Services Center, 403 W. 10th St.
• Jacksonville Children’s Commission, 1095 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.
• Behavioral and Human Services Division Emergency Assistance office, 1809 Art Museum Drive.
• Right-of-Way and Grounds Maintenance administrative offices, 609 St. Johns Bluff Road.
• Solid Waste Division administrative offices, 1031 Superior St.
• Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 2675 Commonwealth Ave.
• The Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum, 829 N. Davis St.
• Jacksonville Public Library (Main Library and branches).
Garbage, yard waste and recycling collection
Residential garbage, yard waste and recycling will be collected as usual on Friday. However, appliances will not be collected. The Trail Ridge Landfill, 5110 U.S. Highway 301, will maintain normal operating hours.
Huguenot Memorial Park
Huguenot Memorial Park will maintain regular hours (8 a.m.-6 p.m.) on Friday. Day-use visitors may enter from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. All but permitted campers and their authorized visitors must depart by 6 p.m. Visitors of campers should pre-register with the office and acquire a visitor pass to stay in the park until 10 p.m. Camping reservations can be made by phone 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Periodically, Huguenot Memorial Park managers must implement limited beach parking plans in preparation for high tides or other natural occurrences which could cause beach and/or park closures if maximum vehicle capacity is reached. Park-goers are encouraged to check conditions before visiting the park by calling 251-3335 or visiting www.jaxparks.com.
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park will maintain regular hours (8 a.m.-6 p.m.) on Friday. Park day-users and campground visitors may enter from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. All but permitted campers and their authorized visitors must depart by 6 p.m. Camping reservations close at 5 p.m. daily. Only campers with prepaid reservations can gain access from 5:30-9 p.m. People without a prepaid pass waiting for them will not be admitted after 5:30 p.m. All campers must check in by 9 p.m. and have tents and all other equipment set up by 9:30 p.m. After 9 p.m., no one may enter to set up on a campsite.
Pools
The Cecil Aquatics Center, 13611 Normandy Blvd., and the Cecil Gymnasium and Fitness Center, 13531 Lake Newman St., will be closed Friday. All 33 outdoor city pools are closed for the season.
Tennis complexes
All three city tennis complexes will be open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. They are the Southside Park Tennis Complex, 1541 Hendricks Ave.; Boone Park Tennis Complex, 3700 Park St.; and Clanzel T. Brown Park Tennis Complex, 4575 Moncrief Road.