WORCESTER, Mass. - The number of military veterans in the U.S. is dropping, and local Army veteran Bruce Mendelsohn says more needs to be done to represent the women and men who’ve served on a national level.

According to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), there are about 19 million veterans today, making up less than 10% of the total us population. Mendelsohn says the VA is projecting the number of veterans will keep declining over the next 25 years, so it's important to recognize the military protects and serves American ideals. 

Mendelsohn says increasing representation among political leaders is critical.​

"The percentage of veterans in Congress is declining and I'm not so sure that's a good thing," Mendelsohn said. "I think veterans need more advocacy and understanding on Capitol Hill. (Congressman) Seth Moulton (D-MA 6th District) is a great guy who does this. (Moulton) is a marine combat platoon leader who went to Harvard. So the guy knows a thing or two about veterans affairs."

Mendelsohn says this is the first Veterans Day in almost a generation the nation has not been engaged in a major armed conflict, making it an especially meaningful year.