At Ryan & Rose, we believe that Memorial Day is one of the most important holidays that we observe. It is a day to recognize and honor all who have fallen while serving in the United States armed forces. Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, began in the 1860s to commemorate Civil War soldiers. However, it later recognized anyone who had passed away while on active duty. In 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed, which set aside the last Monday in May to observe Memorial Day. 
We have many loved ones, friends, and co-workers that are part of the United States armed forces, and we don’t take their many sacrifices for granted. Unfortunately, the ultimate sacrifice has been paid by a few loved ones of our very own team members, and we wanted to take a moment to recognize and remember them.
Stephen New of Bartlett, TN, passed away on July 28, 2013 in Afghanistan when his unit was attacked by gunfire. Stephen was a Special Forces Medic in Operation Enduring Freedom. Stephen was a friend of Lindsey’s, and his death and sacrifice made a lasting impact on her and many others. When Lindsey was a teacher for the deaf, she used Stephen’s story to share about the importance of our Military and those that serve our country. It was imperative that her students grasped the significance of freedom and sacrifice. In 2019, Lindsey designed the Stephen Quinn Cutie Clip to honor her friend and the United States Army.
Another loved one that we recognize each year is Jonathan Clement. Jon was a friend to Danielle, our Director of Marketing, and her husband Brad. Jon lost his life on July 31, 2018 when he succumbed to a head injury that occurred during a post flight inspection. Jon was a Navy Petty Officer, and First Class Aircrewman/Rescue Swimmer. To honor Jon, Danielle created the Jon Hollis (now Theo) Cutie Clip, representing the United States Navy and the American flag. 
Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the true meaning of Memorial Day. At Ryan & Rose, we hope to be a reminder of what truly matters during this holiday.