It’s Veterans Day, Learn more about Veterans and how to help them
11 Facts About Veterans Day
by Dosometing.org
- Veterans Day is celebrated annually on November 11th.
- The holiday honors anyone who has served in the United States armed services.
- The holiday started in 1919 when President Wilson proclaimed November 11 to be Armistice Day.
- The first celebration of Armistice Day marked the one year anniversary of the end of World War I.
- Armistice Day became a federal holiday in 1938.
- In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill establishing the holiday through Congress and changing the name to Veterans Day to include all veterans, not just those of World War I.
- In 1968 the holiday was moved to the fourth Monday of October, but was later moved back to November 11th in 1978.
- All federal offices and many schools and businesses are closed in observance of the holiday.
- Veterans Day coincides with many other countries’ celebration of Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. These holidays also commemorate the end of World War I.
- There are approximately 23.2 million veterans in the United States that the holiday honors.
- America’s Parade in New York City is the largest event in the nation celebrating Veterans Day. This year is the parade’s 84th anniversary!
11 Facts About Veterans
- Veterans are people who served in the military (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) in times of war or peace.
- In the United States, Veteran’s Day is celebrated on November 11th every year.
- Veteran’s Day, which pays tribute to all veterans, living or dead, differs from Memorial Day during which we pay tribute to those who lost their lives in combat.
- There are currently 1.8 million female veterans in the United States.
- Britain, France, Australia, and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World War I and II on or near November 11th.
- 5 states are home to more than 1 million veterans: California (2.1 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas (1.7 million), New York (1 million), and Pennsylvania (1 million).
- The unemployment rate of veterans is 3 percent higher than the rest of the population.
- In 2011 there were 43,942 veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam era.
- One third of the adult homeless population is veterans, and 70 percent of these suffer from substance abuse.
- More than 9 million veterans are over the age of 65.
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the leading cause of homelessness and unemployment in veterans.
11 Ways to Help Veterans
from the brave-tracks team
Upgrade a soldier’s helmet
For $35, you can provide a service member cushioning helmet pads to help protect against traumatic brain injury.
operation-helmet.org
Foster a companion animal
Pets for Vets pairs shelter dogs with veterans in an effort to ease the emotional wounds of war. Volunteers are needed to offer foster care for rescues, as are professional trainers to prepare the dogs for their new roles.
pets-for-vets.com
Help throw a baby shower
Celebrate an expectant mom whose husband is deployed or injured by sending a gift or volunteering in person at a party hosted by Operation Shower.
operationshower.org
Mail a care package
Look up specific requests for reading material, DVDs, games, and relief supplies from service members in all five branches of the military; pack the items with a letter of thanks and ship them off.
booksforsoldiers.com
Tune in to Tim McGraw
As part of his initiative with Chase and Operation Homefront to provide mortgage-free homes for vets and service members in need, the country star is performing a concert tonight for military families, to air on the Pentagon channel and on his website (8:45 p.m. ET).
timmcgraw.com
Support a Mission Continues fellow
The Mission Continues fellowship program allows post-9/11 veterans to continue serving at home by volunteering for 26 weeks with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and American Red Cross. Your donation can help vets finds ways to channel their skills as they transition back to the civilian world.
Missioncontinues.org
Share your points
Transfer your hotel rewards points to Fisher House Foundation’s “Hotels for Heroes” program, which provides accommodations to the families of military service members who are undergoing medical treatment.
Fisherhouse.org
Offer a vet a ride
Join the VA’s Volunteer Transportation Network and you can drive veterans to and from their appointments for services.
Volunteer.va.gov
Donate gifts for kids in Iraq and Afghanistan
Operation Give collects toys and school and art supplies that our troops can then distribute to to local children in the areas where they are serving.
Operationgive.org
Share your expertise
Sign up to teach a class or be a mentor to wounded veterans interested in exploring business opportunities after they leave the hospital.
100entproject.org
Send a holiday card
To date, amillionthanks.org has delivered more than six million letters to service members and veterans. This holiday season, express your appreciation for our troops with a festive card containing a personal message or prayer, postmarked by December 1.
amillionthanks.org
