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Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory there would be no civilization, no future.

Elie Wiesel

Holocaust Survivor & Nobel Laureate

a look back at the history of memorial day

This was a horrible and divided time in the United States, and we came very close to becoming a divided nation. Approximately 620,000 soldiers died during the battles and another 302,000 corpses were discovered over the next two years. 

In 1862, the U.S. Government established the system of national cemeteries to ensure the proper burial of all service members, and created Decoration Day to commemorate fallen soldiers. In 1971, Decoration Day was renamed Memorial Day and declared an official federal holiday by an act of Congress.

To date, millions of Americans and Native Americans have lost their lives because of wars, and Memorial Day is the one day that we honor our fallen.

For those whose bodies are not recovered or unable to be identified, we honor them with a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery, our National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

The freedom and prosperity we enjoy is due, to a large extent, to the service and sacrifice of the few who stood for what we believe in.

Please take the time this year to reflect on the meaning of honor, respect, and the colorful, yet flawed, history of the United States, including war, death, and our amazing resilience as a country to bounce back and become better. Let us not allow any of our fallen soldiers and heroes to have died in vain. And please, let us not let Memorial Day just be another day of mattress sales and a day off from work and school. The true reason for Memorial Day signifies much more, and it deserves gravitas.

On behalf of your Team at Prosperity Financial Group, we salute our fallen heroes. We send our support to all soldiers and first responders who defend our great nation, strengthen America, and help spread freedom across the globe. Thank you for protecting us.

From all of us at Prosperity, we wish you a safe and happy Memorial Day.

All my best,

Elliot Kallen