Lessons Activities and Resources to Support the Commemoration of Veterans Day

Veterans of U.S. Wars and Their Dependents
(On the VA Compensation and Pension Rolls as of July 1, 1997)
As of July 1, 1997, there were approximately 25.6 million veterans living in the United
states. Nearly 80 of every 100 living veterans served during a period when the U.S.
was involved in an armed conflict.
Almost one-third of the nation’s population—approximately 70 million veterans, their
dependents, and survivors of deceased veterans—are potentially eligible for VA
benefits and services.
Veteran’s benefits have existed since the origins of the nation. The last dependent of a
Revolutionary War veteran died in 1911; the War of 1812’s last dependent died in 1946;
the Mexican War’s in 1962. Some 1,131 children and widows of Spanish-American War
veterans are receiving VA benefits. There are, in fact, still a few surviving widows and
children of Civil War and Indian War veterans who draw VA benefits.
Conflict Veterans Children Parents Surviving
Spouses
Civil War - 17 - 2
Indian Wars - 1 - 2
Spanish-American - 356 - 810
War
Mexican Border 18 26 - 360
World War I 1,269 7,419 2 56,267
World War II 855,049 20,792 3,943 308,675
Korean Conflict 279,544 4,867 2,881 68,867
Vietnam War 799,313 17,951 8,290 98,533
Persian Gulf War 192,929 5,805 319 3,766
Iraq Not available Not available Not
Not available
available
Total 2,554,214* 67,445** 18,772*** 575,462****
*Includes 536,089 peacetime veterans with service between January 31, 1955, and
August 5, 1954; peacetime veterans with service beginning after May 7, 1975, and all
other peacetime periods; and 3 world War I Retired Emergency Officers.
** Includes 10,211 children of deceased peacetime veterans.
*** Includes 3, 337 parents of deceased peacetime veterans.
****Includes 38,154 surviving spouses of deceased peacetime veterans.
SOURCE: Department of Veterans Affairs