The James Dicks Blog

It was on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, during the 11th month of 1918 when peace was finally declared in “the war to end all wars.”  It was pronounced as Armistice Day.  In 1938, Armistice Day was enacted as an official American holiday but eventually, after World War II, citizens felt that the veterans of all wars should be recognized, not just those of World War I.  So, in 1954 Congress changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day and today the anniversary celebrates all U.S. military veterans with parades and ceremonies from coast-to-coast.

While we honor the nation’s military heroes who died during wartime on Memorial Day, Veterans Day is set aside to honor those gallant men and women who fought for our nation and survived the horrors of war only to return home with a variety of scars, both physically and mentally.  Today, Veterans Day is also poignant because our nation is at war in foreign lands that threaten our sons and daughters.  These young men and women are actively fighting for the national freedom of not only our nation but of nations who are depending on us for their very survival.

Today and every day, think of these extraordinary people who are deployed in “harm’s way” on the battlefields of Iraq or Afghanistan, or stationed at military installations around the world, far away from the one’s they love.  Think of our military men and women on Thanksgiving or during the holidays; each one of them must face the day away from the warmth and love of their own family and depend on their military brothers and sisters for support.  They do so because they feel a deep obligation to all of us to maintain the freedoms that their parents and grandparents defended during their own military tours of duty.  Whether they experienced battle at Verdun during World War I, Iwo Jima or the Battle of the Bulge at Ardennes in World War II, Pork Chop Hill in Korea, Khe Sanh in Vietnam, the Battle of Fallujah in Iraq or The Battle for Mazar-i Sharif in Afghanistan; veterans have laid their precious time and their very lives on the line in defense of freedom around the world.  They are to be honored, not just today but every day.

While not so much a custom today as it was in the past, you just might see people selling poppies in front of grocery stores and retails centers on Veterans Day.  It has always been traditional to sell poppies because these simple flowers grew over the grave sites on the Western Front in Europe after World War I and they soon became a symbol associated with Veterans. 

During the 1920’s, people began selling paper poppies made to look llike the rell poppy which financially helped ex-servicemen and their families.  Today, these donations help build housing for seniors and support groups such as Meals-on-Wheels.  People also buy them to show their support for our military members and their families.  So, if you see someone selling them on Veterans Day, help out if you can and wear your poppy proudly. 

If you are a military veteran, I thank you for your service.  If you should meet one of our military heroes on the street, take an extra moment to shake their hand and tell them they are appreciated for their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families in the defense of freedom.  Observe Veterans Day with the proper perspective this year; proud of our military vets and proud of our unique nation; a nation that our military has kept free since its founding so many years ago.

Thank you to all our Veterans!

A resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines. Two battalions of Marines were to be formed to fight for independence at sea and on shore.commandant,

As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776.

Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a celebration of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since that time to defend our country as United States Marines.

The rest shall we say is history.

Today, Marines are serving around the world and carrying out the same mission the Marine Corps was founded upon 234 years ago. We all joined this band of brothers for our own special reasons. We all ended up serving a greater good, helping others in need and helping those that cannot defend themselves. Marines help those who want freedom but need help fighting for it. Today’s Marines, like those before them, are still carrying out our Corps’ great traditions, forging relationships that will last a lifetime.

Our Corps is built on the stories and heroics of Marines before; Marines that put the Corps first, and left a legacy that all Marines to come must carry on. We are “the few the proud.” Whether currently serving on active duty or not – “Once a Marine Always a Marine.” Those of you that are currently serving in harm’s way, may God bless you and always remember there is no one better than a fellow Marine by your side. Our strength is our honor, our courage and our commitment to the mission we started 234 years ago, the fight for independence.

Remember this on our birthday, Marines are a family and will always be; we are Marines and always will be. We will fight for independence, for our own sake and for the sake of others in need and we always will. But most importantly, we are part of the greatest network of all, Marines. We must always stick together, while serving and in our everyday lives. There is a reason when you drive down the road anywhere in the world and are recognized by another Marine you are acknowledged. You are family and during these tough domestic times at home we need to remember that we can rely on each other to get through our toughest times, no matter what they are. There is always a Marine out there willing to help another Marine; you just have to ask. You won’t be surprised, after all, that is why we joined the Marine Corps and earned the title of United States Marine.

On this day I wish a motivational Happy Birthday!

Those that are serving stay safe, those that have come before me, thank you for your service, and those that will come after to continue the tradition, thanks for your service and keep fighting!

Semper-Fi

James Dicks

The past few years have been economically challenging for many of us and locating the best investment alternatives are always a primary concern. That’s why so many people around the world have decided to trade the Foreign Exchange (FOREX) market; it’s an appropriate opportunity to use for diversification and the many benefits of trading the FOREX (read my article “Consider the FOREX Market” dated October 19, 2009) makes it a great place to invest and trade, even in the toughest economic periods.

It’s not unusual for new FOREX traders to expect instant, massive returns on their money and believe me, that’s a definite error. Just like anything else, the FOREX market has a learning curve and requires a great deal of determination, education and practice before “live” trading should begin. The FOREX can fetch you large profit potential but it can also bring about large losses if your strategies are faulty or not followed to the letter. I don’t know if I’d go as far as to say that the FOREX market is completely “recession proof” but it’s an opportunity that can weather the economic hard times much better than other investment vehicles.

In the past, the FOREX was only for high roller, institutional traders and investors but in the past decade this unique investment opportunity has opened its doors to just about anyone who might be interested. These are people with families and jobs that might want to trade when they have a bit of spare time in order to supplement their income; in many cases some people have become solid, full time traders and are making a pretty good living doing so. One thing is for sure, whether there is a recession or not, the FOREX market is a place to consider. As a matter of fact, erratic economic conditions normally create volatility that often generates movement in the FOREX. And it’s that movement that creates profit.

But like I said earlier, if you want to be a successful FOREX trader you must obtain a solid foundational education. There are three things that you need to prosper when trading the Forex – education, training, and support (ETS). Without these attributes you are dead in the water, so to speak. The ongoing education and training can be obtained from a variety of sources; live classroom instruction, books on the topic, Internet webinars, or personal coaching sessions. Ask questions of those who have made money trading the FOREX; those are the people who can help you excel.

The support you need can also be found from a variety of sources as well. Support should come from successful traders who are willing to share their information and insights with you on how they developed their methods of trading the FOREX market. These are people who have already developed solid trading plans and profitable trading strategies; issues that you will need to perfect in order to become profitable yourself. It might be a friend who is already in the FOREX and willing to share information or it might be a bit more formal, like a professional trader who is teaching a structured trading class. Whichever the case, the need for you to obtain constant support and encouragement is ultimately important to your continued trading success in any market.

It’s much more fun to do something if you can share it with someone else and trading is no exception. There are probably a number of people in your own area who are also looking for support and information when it comes to the FOREX market. Search them out and start a trading group in your local community. Bolster each other with encouragement and share tips with each other so you and your family can thrive no matter what the economic situation. Recession proof your lives today by doing something you know, understand and enjoy – achieve your personal financial goals through trading the FOREX.