Today the United States honors and thanks all who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Originally known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day was created as a federal holiday to commemorate the end of fighting in World War I.
President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11, 1919 the first Armistice Day:
To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…
At 11am each November 11th, a color guard consisting of members from all US military services, gives honor to our war dead at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. A presidential wreath is laid out and a bugler plays “Taps.”
This infographic from the US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) highlights how veterans are honored every day. Check out the key takeaways from the infographic.
Key Takeaways
Each day at the VA:
- 340,000 employees work at the VA, 32 percent are veterans
- Veterans access care every day
- Nine million veterans are enrolled at 1,750 points of care
- For health care, 236,000 outpatient appointments and 1,100 medical surgeries
- For mental health, 49,316 outpatient appointments
- For the veterans crisis line, 786 calls and 22 rescues
- $389 million is provided for guaranteed housing loans
- $163.5 million is provided for disability compensation
- $14.2 million is provided for pensions for low income beneficiaries
- $33.1 million is provided for education programs
- $2.6 million is provided for vocational rehabilitation programs
- Veterans are honored every day, with 475 interments at 131 national cemeteries and 3.3 million gravesites maintained as national shrines
