Did you know that, according to current U.S. Census Bureau data, there are 16.2 million military veterans that call the United States home?
The yearly calendar observance originated as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, marking the first anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1926, congress passed a resolution to make this day a national holiday, and 16 years later, during President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency, legislation officially changed the name to Veterans Day.
This important day is honored in many ways, including events and parades. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virigina, there is a ceremony to define the significance of the day.
Which states do the most veterans call home? Interestingly enough, Alaska is the state with the highest population of veterans who have served in the U.S. Military. Following the Northwestern state, Wyoming, Virginia, Maine, and Montana rounded out the top five.
Veterans Portals and Geographic Solutions
At Geographic Solutions, we count many veterans in our ranks. Some of our most important work is created in the form of Veterans Portals, which help when those who have served our country in the armed forces make their way back to the civilian workforce. Over the last year, those portals have accounted for almost 80,000 active users, according to internal data from Google Analytics.
Veterans Portals are an excellent solution for states that are seeking to help their veterans’ populations find jobs. Some states, such as North Carolina, show medallions next to employers who have been recognized by the Department of Labor as veteran friendly.
“It’s a big thing for an employer to take money out of their pocket to apply and be awarded the program showing that they’re vet friendly, that they’ll hire, train, and retain veterans at a certain level,” said North Carolina’s Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions’ Chris Silvers.
How to Honor Veterans Day
How can we observe Veterans Day? In 2023, we interviewed CareerSource Palm Beach County’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Steven Gustafson. A former member of the armed forces, he offered his thoughts on how to honor the day.
“I think that honoring that spirit of selflessness is a great way to honor our veterans, not only on November 11th, but year-round,” said Gustafson.
A big event that Florida has each year around Veterans Day is Paychecks for Patriots, a joint event coordinated by the Florida Department of Commerce, The Florida National Guard, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and participating employers from around the state.
Geographic Solutions is proud to have 39 veterans amongst their workforce’s ranks, making up 12 percent of the total company workforce.
This year, thank a veteran at Geographic Solutions, in your community, your family, or amongst your friend circle for being selfless in their choice to serve the United States.