Do you what it takes to be considered a veteran or what the difference is between Veterans Day and Memorial Day? Or why Veterans Day is celebrated on Nov. 11? How about how many veterans are female or how many are homeless? Veterans are even entitled to special mortgage financing opportunities, including zero down payment home loans.
There are many important facts about veterans that are not common knowledge, but really should be. Here are 10 incredible facts about veterans that everyone should know:
- A veteran is anyone who served active duty in the military, which includes the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, for any length of time during both war and peace time. However, anyone who receives a dishonorable discharge through a court martial is not entitled to veteran benefits.
- There are currently nearly 22 million veterans living in the U.S., according to the most recent census bureau data.
- More than 2 million of those veterans are women.
- Veterans Day honors the service of both living and dead veterans and Memorial Day pays tribute to those who died in battle.
- Veterans Day is celebrated on Nov. 11, the same day World War I officially ended, marking the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th
- Veterans make up 13 percent of the U.S. adult homeless population and 70 percent of those homeless veterans suffer from substance abuse.
- More than 1 million veterans and/or their families have taken advantage of the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill to attend college.
- More than 4 million small businesses are owned and operated by veterans. That accounts for about 9 percent of all businesses nationwide, according to census data. If you’re a veteran looking to start your own small business, check out www.saveunited.org.
- Nearly $300 billion a year is donated to veteran charities, according to the Giving USA Foundation.
- Veterans are more likely than the average American to have graduated high school, but less likely to have obtained a college degree.
These facts should open your eyes to the power and diversity of the U.S. armed forces. For more information on whether you qualify for VA home loan, call us at 888-320-7888.
Sources:
https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-veterans
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2014/11/10/veterans-day-data-boot-camp
http://ivn.us/2013/11/11/14-facts-veterans-struggles-triumphs-didnt-know/
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillylists/10-facts-about-Americas-veterans.html
