6 • MAY 27, 2022 OPINION
bransonglobe.com
Lest we forget, Memorial Day is more than a four-day weekend
First Amendment to the United States Constitution Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. ROB DOHERTY Publisher (504) 583-8907 robd@bransonglobe.com JANET STEINKAMP Editor editor@bransonglobe.com GARY GROMAN, A.K.A. THE OLE SEAGULL Independent Writer
BY GARY J. GROMAN a.k.a. The Ole Seagull
E
ven preceding the first “officially” recognized Memorial Day in Waterloo, New York, on May 30, 1868, its purpose was to remember those who died in defense of their country. Over the years, especially since the passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, “moving Memorial Day from its traditional observance on May 30 to a set day—the last Monday in May,” more and more of those liv-
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PATTY DOERPINGHAUS
Stone County Account Representative
(530) 739-5560 pattyd.ads@gmail.com MARK FEDER
Taney County Account Representative
TIFFANY GRAVETT Staff Writer tiffanykathleenbrown@ gmail.com KAREN HALFPOP Digital/Production Director production@ BransonGlobe.com
to their military and governmental leaders. It is a control that is absolute and irrevocable from an honor point of view. That control could be exercised in various ways. In “combat,” it could be through an order “to take that hill,” in the face of withering machine gun or mortar fire, to patrol a neighborhood in Baghdad, or assault a terrorist stronghold in Afghanistan. A non-combat support position could be an order to serve in a supply depot, training facility, or hospital thousands of miles away from the battle. Regardless of where or how one serves, the risk to their life is an inherent part of their oath. History records that it’s the politicians, and those in power, who start wars and that it is the men and women of their Armed Forces and
their families who pay the price of those wars. It is a price paid in separation, stress, blood, suffering, anguish, physical and mental injury, and sometimes death. Theirs is not to judge whether the politicians and powerful are risking their lives for a noble or just cause. Theirs is to selflessly do their sworn duty. Some have served in “popular” conflicts, such as World Wars I and II, Desert Storm, and the War Against Terrorism. Others in conflicts that were not as “popular,” such as Korea and Vietnam. However, through it all, the men and women of America’s Armed Forces and their families have done their duty, sacrificed and given unstintingly of themselves. William James eloquently reSEE OLE SEAGULL, PAGE 8
Stock Market Insights: Are we near a low?
KIM CHAPPELL Ad Designer gabbydor210@gmail.com
(805) 320-3746 shotgunart@yahoo.com
ing in America relate Memorial Day to the first long weekend of summer rather than honoring those who have given their lives in defense of their country. Lest we forget, Memorial Day is more than a four-day weekend, and there’s “here is no such thing as a free lunch.” Since our country’s earliest days, America’s Armed Forces, and their families, have paid the price for the freedoms we all enjoy. Freedoms that, seemingly, on an increasing basis, many take for granted. Memorial Day affords a unique opportunity to reflect upon that price and honor those who have paid it. The very act of going into the Armed Forces puts one’s life at risk. Immediately upon being “sworn in,” members of the Armed Forces have given control of their lives
BY DR. RICHARD L. BAKER, AIF® Founder & Senior Wealth Advisor at Steadfast Wealth Management
was terrible at roller skating limbo, but chubby guys aren’t usually contenders in these types of games. It’s a center of gravity thing. I still wonder how they got that low. The market is low. On May 18 the S&P 500 closed at 3,923.68, or 18.1% below its record in January. This was the biggest one-day drop since March 2020. Has the market bottomed out? Nobody knows for sure when the
market will hit its low, but we wish we could. I’ve said in many speeches over the years that if we’d only known to invest all our cash on March 9, 2009, (the bottom of the financial crisis crash) we’d be filthy rich. Okay, maybe not filthy rich but your account would be up over 430%. There is no crystal ball but there are some historical signs that may indicate that the market is close to a low.
I see two of those indicators now. The first is investor sentiment, which is when the “average Joe” who doesn’t normally follow the market thinks it’s crashing. I’m seeing desperation selling in the market, and I’m starting to hear from people who normally don’t pay much attention which is a classic sign that the market is near a low. The second indicator I’m seeing SEE STOCK MARKET, PAGE 8
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