Roll Call: Veterans by the Numbers.

• Author: Schultz, Jennifer
• Position: STATESTATS

Most Americans will never serve in the military or step foot on a battlefield, but many feel an obligation to support those who have. Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, a holiday created to honor all those who have served in an American war. It began as "Armistice Day," on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I, when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 1 lth month. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day.

Thanking veterans for their service can go a long way, but many feel we owe the more than 18 million veterans and their families more than that. These men and women offer a unique set of skills, experiences and leadership abilities, yet many struggle with the transition to civilian life. Finding a job, housing and health care can be challenging, especially for veterans with disabilities.

The unemployment rate for veterans who served after September 2001 continues to be higher than that of nonveterans. Difficulty in translating military skills into workplace skills, along with a lack of self-marketing skills and the persistence of negative stereotypes all play a role in the higher than average unemployment rate, as do requirements for professional licenses and certifications.

With more veterans returning home, state legislatures can play an important role in ensuring they and their families receive the resources and information they need to make a smooth transition to civilian life.

Who Are Our Veterans? The nation's 18,830,450 veterans make up 7.6 percent of the total population. Their Gender Male veterans 17,254,563 91.6% Female veterans 1,575,887 8.3% How Old They Are 65 years and over 9,315,829 49.5% 35 to 54 years 4,470,020 23.7% 55 to 64...