Veterans Day

From the Census Bureau:

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary marking 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 and a remembrance ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

18.8 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2015.
Source:
2015 American Community Survey
1.6 million
The number of female veterans in the United States in 2015.
Source:
2015 American Community Survey
11.6%
The percentage of veterans in 2015 who were black. Additionally, 78.3 percent were non-Hispanic white, 1.5 percent were Asian, 0.7 percent were American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2 percent were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 1.3 percent were Some Other Race. (The numbers for blacks, non-Hispanic whites, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and Some Other Race cover only those reporting a single race.)
Source:
2015 American Community Survey
6.4%
The percentage of veterans in 2015 who were Hispanic.
Source:
2015 American Community Survey
9.3 million
The number of veterans age 65 and older in 2015. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.6 million were younger than age 35.
Source:
2015 American Community Survey
When They Served
6.8 million
The number of Vietnam Era veterans in 2015. Moreover, there were 5.6 million who served during the Gulf War (representing service from August 1990 to present); 930,000 who served in World War II; 1.8 million who served in the Korean War; and 4.3 million who served in peacetime only.
Source:
2015 American Community Survey

The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during three wartime periods:
61,997 served during the Vietnam Era and both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later).
29,331 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
The number of living veterans in 2015 who served during two wartime periods:
1,085,142 served during both periods of the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001 and September 2001 or later)
288,341 served during the Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001) and the Vietnam Era.
152,416 served during the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
65,704 served during World War II and the Korean War.
Source:
2015 American Community Survey