Memorial Day: It’s Our Duty to Remember – Presented by Mark K. Lund, Financial Advisor in Utah

In 1945 John Huston, who had just directed The Maltese Falcon, produced a documentary about the Allies’ fight to break through the German army’s “Winter Line” in southern Italy.

The film was called The Battle of San Pietro. It documented the retaking of a single, heavily defended town, and covered the events of just nine days.¹

But unlike the newsreels and war dramas of the time, Huston told the story with bleak realism, including close up shots of casualties. Four hundred Allied troops were killed and another 800 were wounded while attacking fortified positions that had the higher ground.

Initially, the US Army delayed release of the film, and some accused Huston of being anti-war. The director, who was later decorated and earned the rank of major, responded that if he ever made a pro-war film, he should be shot.

General George Marshall came to the film’s defense. He said that because of its gritty realism and portrayal of death, it would inspire soldiers to take their training more seriously.

Memorial Day is our annual reminder of the grimness of war. While we celebrate when our military conducts a successful operation, we must remember the high cost that many of our soldiers have paid.

Unfortunately, America is starting to forget the reason for this day of remembrance.

A recent poll conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the University of Phoenix found that 57% of adults polled did not know that Memorial Day is a holiday honoring those who died in service while in the US Armed Forces. Just 46% of respondents knew that Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. And half had not heard of the term “Gold Star Family”—which is a family that has lost a loved one in military service.²

“For many Americans, Memorial Day is a much needed day off to relax and enjoy their family,” says Brian Ishmael, a former US Army sergeant and senior director of the University of Phoenix Office of Military and Veteran Affairs. “For me as a combat veteran and for military members and their families, this day holds great significance. Not everyone I served with was fortunate enough to return home.”

There are several appropriate ways to honor this holiday. You can fly the flag to show your support. If you know a veteran, you can ask if they are willing to share about their experiences while serving. And on Memorial Day, you can take a moment to pause with those you are enjoying the holiday with and reflect for a moment on the true meaning of the day.

We wish you a meaningful Memorial Day and hope that you get to enjoy the freedom that others have paid for.

If you ever have any questions about your investments or retirement plans, please feel free to give me a call at 801-545-0696.

Regards, 

Mark Lund

Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc.

11576 S State Street, Bldg. 1002

Draper, UT 84020

Sources:
1. http://go.pardot.com/e/91522/wiki-The-Battle-of-San-Pietro/9377jy/1928579527?h=3EbtwVJVEMkYo2p7j9dxC8SRWeJ0psYhei1LbvZMXLE
2. http://go.pardot.com/e/91522/why-we-celebrate-memorial-day-/9377k2/1928579527?h=3EbtwVJVEMkYo2p7j9dxC8SRWeJ0psYhei1LbvZMXLE

Disclosure:
This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This material was prepared by Efficient Advisors, LLC (“EA’) for Mark Lund, Mark is a Financial Advisor in Utah. He is known as a Wealth Advisor, The 401k Advisor, Investor Coach, Financial Planner, Investment Advisor and author of The Effective Investor. Mark offers investment advisory services through Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. a fiduciary, independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor firm providing investment management and retirement planning for individuals and 401k consulting for small businesses. Mark’s newsletter is called The Effective Investor Newsletter.  Cities served in Utah are: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah County, Park City, Murray City, West Jordan City, Sandy City, Draper City, South Jordan City, Provo City, Orem City, Lehi City, Highland City, Alpine City, American Fork City.  The views expressed herein are exclusively those of Efficient Advisors, LLC (‘EA’), and are not meant as investment advice and are subject to change. All charts and graphs are presented for informational and analytical purposes only. No chart or graph is intended to be used as a guide to investing. EA portfolios may contain specific securities that have been mentioned herein. EA makes no claim as to the suitability of these securities. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Information contained herein is derived from sources we believe to be reliable, however, we do not represent that this information is complete or accurate and it should not be relied upon as such. All opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. This information is prepared for general information only. It does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person who may receive this report. You should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any security or investment strategy discussed or recommended in this report and should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized. You should note that security values may fluctuate and that each security’s price or value may rise or fall. Accordingly, investors may receive back less than originally invested. Investing in any security involves certain systematic risks including, but not limited to, market risk, interest-rate risk, inflation risk, and event risk. These risks are in addition to any unsystematic risks associated with particular investment styles or strategies. 

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