Do you know the Meaning of Memorial Day?

Memorial Day often marks the unofficial start of summer. The Holiday gives us a long weekend and the opportunity to have cookouts with friends and family, but Memorial Day has a deeper meaning and historical significance that is sometimes forgotten.

The exact origins of Memorial Day remain unknown, but the Holiday is a day of remembrance for those who have died serving America. Several different towns claim to have started the Holiday around the end of the Civil War. These separate beginnings likely occurred because of the unplanned gathering of town people to honor the lives lost during the Civil War.

According to Yale University historian David Blight's research, the first Memorial Day, or Declaration Day as it was first called, dates back to April 1865. This date marks the time a group of former slaves gathered at a Confederate prison, which used to be a horse race track, where more than 250 Union soldiers had died due to horrible conditions and disease. The former slaves dug up the soldiers' single massive grave then dug each an individual grave. A fence was then wrapped around the new grave yard and an archway was put up that said, "Martyrs of the Race Course." On May 1, 1865, an estimated 10,000 people and Union troops marched around the graveyard carrying roses, singing spiritual songs and the Star Spangled Banner.

These small town celebrations lasted for more than three years before Memorial Day became an official Holiday. General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former soldiers and sailors, proclaimed May 30, 1868 Declaration Day. He said the new Holiday was meant for honoring and remembering the comrades who died defending America by decorating their graves. General James Garfield gave a speech on the first Declaration Day at Arlington National Cemetery, where 5,000 people decorated the 20,000+ graves of the entombed Union and Confederate soldiers.

According to the 2000 National Moment of Remembrance Act, at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day Americans should informally observe a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to Taps.

Today, Memorial Day celebrations remain strong at Arlington National Cemetery. Since the 1950's soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division have placed American flags at each of the graves on the Thursday before Memorial Day. During Memorial Day weekend, the cemetery is patrolled to make sure every flag is always standing up. On this Memorial Day, don't forget this part of America's rich history. Take just a minute to stop and remember those who have lost their lives fighting for the freedom we have today.

Why Lease Your Office Equipment?

As covered in a previous blog post, there many advantages to leasing your business equipment, including increased financial flexibility and keeping your business’ equipment as up to date as possible. When businesses are aware of the advantages of leasing, one thing that might not be clear is what equipment is available to lease. Usually people know about big leasing items like hospital and dental equipment, but did you know you can lease office equipment including desks and storage, too?

First impressions are important. When you first walk in a business, the first visible space is the reception area. Be sure your office’s reception area is equipped with stylish furniture that will warmly welcome guests to your business, not turn them away. If people need to wait, be sure your office has a comfortable seating area with arm chairs and sofas. When you lease office furniture, you can get new furniture after your term is up which means your furniture will never sag!

If your business is quickly growing, that means your technology needs room to grow, too. Buying computers and software is a restricting investment that ties your business and its funds down until new systems can be purchased. With leasing, there are no long term commitments or restrictions because you have the option to upgrade at the end of your leasing period. This is a huge advantage in these times of rapidly changing technology because having the latest and greatest technology can give your business the competitive edge needed to succeed.

From furniture and software to seating and workstations, there are numerous leasing options, with a variety of office equipment available for lease. Tiger Leasing offers several different leasing program options to suit your business’ needs, so consider leasing the next time your business needs to update its equipment!

Simple Ways to De-stress & Refresh

Being stressed and being busy go hand in hand. People with jam-packed schedules often find themselves stressed with no time to take a break and relax. De-stressing is easy and some tactics only takes a few minutes out of your busy day, and your body will thank you! Here are a few ways to unwind for those of you who are overwhelmed and overworked.

Yoga

If you have the time, yoga is a great way to de-stress. Yoga focuses on breathing and meditation which helps people let go of their stresses and worries. In addition, yoga has other health benefits such as relieving symptoms of asthma, back pain and arthritis while also benefiting the heart, and improving your mood, concentration and posture.

Have Some Fun

Do you have a certain hobby that helps you relax? Maybe you like listening to music, working out, reading or writing. Whatever your hobby is, take a quick break when you're feeling stressed to lose yourself in your hobby. Taking your mind off of stressful situations for even a short time will help refresh your mind and you'll feel better when it's time to get back to work.

Take a Walk

Getting outdoors is a fast and easy way to de-stress. Going for a quick walk outdoors is a physical, full body activity that will take your mind of off whatever is stressing you out. If you can't go for a walk outside, just get up from your desk and take a quick walk down the hallway. Being away from your desk physically will help you get away from the demands of your day.

Give 10 Minutes to Yourself

End your busy day by simply giving yourself 10 minutes before bed to relax. Don't use this time to go on the computer or watch TV, but try sipping a hot cup of tea or reading a magazine before bed. This is your chance to clear your mind before you go to sleep so you aren't thinking about how crazy the day was while you're trying to fall asleep.

Everyone needs to de-stress and refresh every once in a while. When you start to feel overwhelmed you might want to keep working, but remember that overworking your brain is not always a good thing and it's natural to need a break!