Honoring the Coast’s veterans,

Veterans Day, once known as Armistice Day, was first celebrated on Nov. 11, 1919, the anniversary of the end of World War I.

In 1928, the United States Congress passed a resolution for Armistice Day to be an annual observation, and by 1938, the day became a national holiday. Different from Memorial Day, which is celebrated in May, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 under President Dwight Eisenhower, and it pays tribute to veterans who survived various wars. Memorial Day commemorates those veterans who lost their lives.

Americans celebrate Veterans Day, while residents of Great Britain, Canada and Australia celebrate Remembrance Day. Those who want to learn more about Veterans Day can consider the following facts:

• According to the U. S. Department of Veteran Affairs, as of the end of 2018, there were approximately 18 million veterans in the United States, or 7.1 percent of the adult population. More than five million veterans have at least one disability, 1.2 million live in poverty and 77 percent of veterans aged 18 to 64 are employed or looking for work. At the end of 2018, an estimated 37,878 veterans were homeless. Close to 4 million or 35.5 percent of U. S. veterans served in Vietnam, the most heavily represented confl ict among veterans. In all states but three the largest group of veterans is that of Vietnam War vets. Alaska, Hawaii and Virginia are the exceptions. The largest group of veterans in these three states served in the Gulf War.

• Veterans consist of people who served in the military. This includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. Veterans serve in times of war and peace.

• The word “veteran” comes from the Old English language and means “old, experienced soldier.”

The first use of the word was documented in 1789.

• Upon retiring or being discharged, veterans may need help acclimating to life outside the military. The Department of Veterans Af fairs says about 30 percent of Vietnam War veterans have been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

• Between 1971 and 1977, Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October. It was changed back to its original date, Nov. 11, in 1975 when President Gerald Ford signed bill S. 331 into law. The change went into effect beginning in 1978.

Veterans Day occurs each year on Nov. 11, commemorating the end of World War I.