foxex: Happy Memorial Day

Monday, May 27, 2019

Happy Memorial Day

The Market Sum | Insight after the bell

By Caleb Silver, Editor in Chief

Monday's Headlines

1. Why Memorial Day Matters

photo courtesy Arlington National Cemetery

Memorial Day

It's Memorial Day here in the U.S. It's a national holiday, so all banks, government offices and markets are closed. It's also the unofficial start to the summer up here in this part of the Northern hemisphere, which means the beaches are open, BBQs are grilling, and frisbees are getting tossed around. We hope most of you who live in the U.S. are getting to enjoy the holiday. With that said, we think it's important to remember and think about why we have Memorial Day in this country and what it means.

photo courtesy Arlington National Cemetery

Memorial Day History

This comes from the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.

With Gratitude

That's the origin of today's holiday which is important to know. But the symbolism of Memorial Day is what's important to me. Our people in the military do much more than defend our country and our interests around the world. They respond to natural disasters here and abroad, they volunteer in and around their communities, they teach, they coach, they work alongside of us in civilian jobs, and they represent the values we hold dear: Trust, integrity, honor, loyalty and courage.

They put themselves in danger to protect others, and they look out for one another.

These are values we can all relate to no matter what country we live in.

We salute our members of the military and their families, and we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice through their service.

You have our gratitude.

Here's some useful and related reading:

We are back on Tuesday.

- Caleb