Florida Still the Go-to Place for Vets

[unhappycamper]

Florida Still the Go-to Place for Vets
November 10, 2008
Orlando Sentinel

Old Soldiers never die -- they just move to Florida.

It is a durable trend reflected in great numbers after World War II, recently reinforced by the military men and women who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and who are again making the state their home.

Florida's intrinsic amenities and expanded veterans' services are magnets that have boosted the state past Texas for the second-largest veteran population at 1.75 million, according to the latest tally. Only California is home to more veterans, with 2.1 million. But the Sunshine State is the hot draw. Even as the nation's veteran population withered 16.5 percent since 1980, Florida increased its ranks by nearly 400,000.

Forecasters predict the state will surpass California within 20 years.

"The Southeast, and Florida in particular, is an attractive region for military veterans and retirees," said Jay Agg, national communications director for AMVETS, noting that the state has one of the organization's fastest-growing and most active departments.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/florida-still-the-goto-place-for-vets.html?col=1186032369115