236 Years of Honor
Research for Online Investors

by John Dalt

11/11/11

Today is Veteran's Day in the United States.  Yesterday was the 236th birthday of the founding of the United States Marine Corp. I talked to an old friend this morning who left his leg in Vietnam, and thanked him for his service to our country. He attended lunch in Kansas City yesterday with other Marines. I thanked him for his service, and suggested he puff out his chest today. A couple of other calls to “leathernecks” to thank them for their service left me with a lump in my throat. The "Long Line" continues with one of my friends.  He fought in Vietnam, his youngest son enlisted in the Marines earlier this year and is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in January as a Security Officer.

Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington, D.C.
21,570 Japanese and 6,821 Marines Killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima

Thinking about my friends and others that gave the last ounce for us makes all the daily work we do in the market seem insignificant. Bob Parsons is the founder and President of GoDaddy. They host our website. Bob Parsons is a Marine. Each year Bob sends out his tribute to the Marine Corp. Below is the Marine Corp Commandant's 236th Birthday message.

I encourage you to make a few calls to anyone you know who served our country, you will be better for it. The Marine Corp was founded 236 years ago. A committee of the Continental Congress met in Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. They drafted a resolution to form two battalions of Marines to fight for independence at sea and shore.

The resolution was approved on Nov. 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines. After organizing, the force was ready in early 1776. According to Answers.com the present day Marine Corp consists of 203,000 active duty, and 40,000 in reserve. The Corp motto is Semper Fidelis, Latin for “always faithful.”

The markets are open today, but stock trades made earlier in the week will not be ‘settled’. Bond markets are not open. Take some time from your day to attend a ceremony or thank a veteran.

With all of the above, we want to make our annual suggestion to think of using Worcester Wreath Co. for a nice gift for friends or customers. Worcester grows the balsam wood, makes the wreaths and ships them to your address. This Company’s president, Morrill Worcester donates wreaths every year for Arlington National Cemetery. Maybe a little bit of the money you spend with him will help him continue this philanthropy. Morrill started by giving 5,000 wreaths to decorate the graves at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992

Arlington Cemetery with Worcester Wreaths

This year Wreaths Across America will decorate 330,000 fallen heroes’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery.  Wreath laying day is the second Saturday in December, this year falling on the tenth. Wreaths Across America is a 501c3 organization that organizes the wreath ceremonies at 300 locations in the U.S. and 24 foreign cemeteries where our fallen heroes rest. There are few charities more deserving of our support. You can donate at Wreaths Across America.  Here is a short video by Karen Worcester explaining the theme for this year, "The Christmas They Never Had."

My Dad's older brother fought at the Battle of the Bulge in WWII that Karen mentions in this video.  He never talked about this to us, but told his children he had never been so cold.  He crawled between command posts, stringing wire so officers could talk to each other.  He told his kids the spools of wire were tied on his back and he drug his knapsack along because he never knew where he would get to sleep.

I hope you can make the effort to remember our Veterans, as they gave willingly when called.

Quote:
To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen.  To be lost in war is not the worst that can happen...to be forgotten is the worst that can happen. - Pierre Claeyssens (1909--2003)

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