The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month Why Veterans Day and the Number 11 Go Hand in Hand
Veterans Day comes every Nov. 11. It’s a national holiday that recognizes veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces and honors those both living and deceased. Historically, the day marks Armistice Day and the end of the Great War: World War I. But what is the significance of the number 11? The armistice was signed at 5:45 a.m. in France, but it took effect at 11 a.m. that same morning — which happened to be Nov. 11, 1918. The armistice originally lasted 36 days but was extended month after month. This led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, when peace was officially declared.
Later that year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that Nov. 11 would be known as Armistice Day to honor those who fought in the Great War. This lasted until 1954, when President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation turning Armistice Day into Veterans Day. The change was made in order to recognize all veterans who had honorably served their country. By 1954, the U.S. had fought in more wars — specifically World War II and the Korean War — and hundreds of thousands more Americans had served. Unsurprisingly, there was some political drama surrounding the day. In 1968, Congress made Veterans Day a federal holiday under the Uniform Holiday Bill. The idea was to increase the number of three-day weekends in the year. Veterans Day became a holiday that would fall on the fourth Monday of October, a far cry from Nov. 11.
However, in 1978, Veterans Day was restored to its original Nov. 11 date. But why?
The answer is simple. It’s a number that sticks with you. When the clock strikes 11:11, you always take notice. By that same notion, we all remember the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Because of this, we’ll never forget the end of the Great War, nor will we forget those who served.
The Polls and Your Portfolio How Does the Election Affect My Portfolio?
As Americans head to the polls to exercise their right to vote in the presidential election, they bring many issues and beliefs with them. For some voters, these include questions about their portfolio and how the winner of the election could impact their savings, retirement, and ultimately, their future.
The answer, many financial analysts say, is not much.
Analysts have found that the market has remained stagnant in the year leading up to an election for the past 100 years. Although there hasn’t been any significant change to warrant concern, voter concern over uncertainty tends to be reflected in the market. After the ballots are counted and a president-elect is chosen, the market may see a downward trend if a new president (not the incumbent) takes office. Again, this is likely due to uncertainty and concern. Still, the market always ebbs and flows, and most presidents leave office with normal markets. However, congressional elections, which decide who our lawmakers are, may be what impact your portfolio more. Law creation, divided government, and responses to those laws influence portfolio performance more than most presidential elections. Remember, the market responds to reaction, and whom we elect to Congress and how they legislate more directly impacts our lives than the president.
The pandemic that has rocked 2020 has given us plenty of lessons on market volatility. As COVID-19 swept across the U.S., many residents had to shelter in place while industries shut down for an unprecedented hiatus. Financial planners and analysts encouraged patience to allow this storm to pass while they tried to identify long- term change. As we’re still recovering from this pandemic, so is the market, which could have an influence on the correlation between the election and the stock market. That said, if the past 100 years are any indication, you have little to worry about. Whoever occupies the Oval Office in 2021 will have very little influence on your portfolio. Your best financial strategy is to do the same thing you’ve been doing throughout the pandemic: Remain patient.
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