Volatility and Memorial Day

The key word for investors this past week was volatility. The newsletter will briefly recap the week's events and a section on Memorial Day facts.

This past week the stock market, bond market, and commodities went absolutely psycho. Each day saw dramatic swings that made me rather nervous and the account's of clients who expressed some nervousness were tweaked to be more conservative. I am very bullish on the future of the economy and this is a short term move. Once this volatility subsides, the VIX returns to a more normal level, the account positions should be returned.

Memorial Day Facts:

1) When was Memorial Day first celebrated? Memorial day was first celebrated on May 30, 1868. It was observed by placing flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers during the first national celebration. Gen. James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which around 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.

2) Why is Memorial Day celebrated on May 30? Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of 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. This date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

3) General John Alexander Logan ordered the Memorial Day holiday to be observed by decorating the war dead.

4) On Memorial Day, the flag should be at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.

5) Red Poppies are recognized as the Memorial Day flower.

6) Memorial Day was first called “Decoration Day” because of the practice of decorating soldier’s graves with flowers.

7) New York was the 1st state to officially recognize Memorial Day.

8) Flowers and flags are the two most popular items people use to remember soldiers.

9) Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday in 1971.