Memorial Day 2016

Many people in the workforce think of the Memorial Day holiday as a three day weekend. Most go on a short weekend vacation with their family, have a barbecue, and depending on the weather, may even enjoy a day at the pool. There is just one issue with this… That’s not what Memorial Day is all about. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for the fallen soldiers in our armed forces. It’s a day to say thank you to those who fight for our country, and a day to look at the American Flag in a much different way than we normally do.

In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three-day weekend for federal holidays. Memorial Day is now celebrated by almost every state on the last Monday in May. Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL who served—in wartime or peacetime—and whether they died or survived.

The wearing of poppies in honor of America’s war dead is traditionally done on Memorial Day (not Veterans Day). The origin of the red poppy as a modern-day symbol of this day was actually the idea of Moina Michael. (Read more about the inspiration for the poppy.)

In war-torn battlefields, the red field poppy  was one of the first plants to grow. Its seeds scattered in the wind and sat dormant in the ground, only germinating when the ground is disturbed—as it was by the very brutal fighting during World War 1.

Today, poppies are both the symbol of loss of life as a symbol of recovery and new life, especially in support of those servicemen who were damaged physically or emotionally.

Blank dog tags on American flag with focus on tags – Shallow dof

 Because we are a veteran-run business, Sharn Enterprises, Inc., we would like to encourage everyone to take some time out during their barbecues, boating trips, and day at the pool to remember those who have given their lives fighting for us so that we have the opportunity to pursue all the wonderful things life in America has to offer.

In observance of Memorial Day, Sharn Enterprises will be closed on Monday, May 30, 2016.

To learn more about our Company, its products and services, please visit our website at www.sharndisplays.com

“A proud American manufacturer”

Fixtures, Freedom, & Fireworks: Happy 4th From Sharn!

Most every American can agree that the Fourth of the July is one of the best holidays of the year.  Usually, the air is warm, the sun is out, and cool drinks are flowing. But in between barbecues and trips to the beach, the true meaning of the fourth of July sometimes gets forgotten.  We must remember what Independence Day means for us Americans.  It is a day to reflect on what it truly means to be free;  to remember those who have fallen and those who continue to fight for our freedom and one of the most important symbols of our freedom is the firework.

When looking up at the beautiful night sky mesmerized by fireworks, many thoughts might come into your head including, “Freedom, Independence, Beauty…”

For myself, I am a little bit more scientific in thought (or as I would like to think I am)!

I want to know how this All-American symbol is constructed.  So when you either stand, sit, or lay down in the grass in awe of the beautiful night sky exploding with color, you will be able to answer this exact question… How are fireworks made?!

 

To start off, experts believe that fireworks originated in China over 1,000 years ago.  Still today, China is the largest manufacturer of the brilliant invention.  There are three types of fireworks; Fire-crackers, Sparklers, and Aerial Fireworks.

Firecrackers are simple rolled up paper tubes filled with black powder and a fuse.  When you light the fuse of a firecracker, the fire burns along that fuse until it reaches the powder. BOOM. Explosion.

Pretty simple, right?

Next, sparklers are different in that they make bright, sparkly light.  They contain more substances than a short explosion or firecracker. The bright sparks consist of burning bits of dust made of metals such as aluminum, iron, steel, zinc, or magnesium.  Kids, remember, these are not edible….

Aerial fireworks, in my opinion, are the best.  Usually, these are made up of four parts inside a shell.  The container, the fuse, the powder, and the stars.  The shells are then launched into the sky from short pipes filled with a lifting charge of black powder.  The lifting then lights the shell’s fuse and when the flame hits the shell.  The explosion pushes the stars in all directions, creating the spectacular display.

The colors are produced by carefully mixing the right kinds of chemical compounds.  For example, blue is made up of copper compounds.  And that’s your science lesson for today, folks.

Sharn Enterprises, Inc. will be closed on July 3rd in observance of Independence Day.   We look forward to observing this holiday by being with our family and friends and taking the time think about America and all of the great values it represents.

“A Proud American Manufacturer”

For more information about our products and services, Please visit www.sharndisplays.com or check out our latest video here: http://vimeo.com/71471550

Follow us on Twitter & Facebook! @SharnDisplays | http://www.facebook.com/sharnenterprises

Sources:

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-are-fireworks-made/

https://academicexchange.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/20-fun-facts-about-the-4th-of-julyindependence-day/

http://www.wheelsforwishes.org/news/ten-interesting-facts-about-independence-day/

Memorial Day 2015

Many people in the workforce think of the Memorial Day holiday as a three day weekend.  Most go on a short weekend vacation with their family, have a barbecue, and depending on the weather, may even enjoy a day at the pool.   There is just one issue with this… That’s not what Memorial Day is all about.  Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for the fallen soldiers in our armed forces. It’s a day to say thank you to those who fight for our country, and a day to look at the American Flag in a much different way than we normally do.

In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three-day weekend for federal holidays.  Currently, Memorial Day is now celebrated by almost every state on the last Monday in May.  Since the meaning of Memorial Day has diminished over the years, there have been efforts to try to get it changed back to the original date of May 30^th.

Because we are a veteran-run business, here at Sharn Enterprises, Inc., we would like to encourage everyone to take some time out during their barbecues, boating trips, and day at the pool to remember those who have given their lives fighting for us so that we have the opportunity to do pursue all the wonderful things life in America has to offer.

In observance of Memorial Day, the Sharn Enterprise offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2015.

For more information about our products and services, be sure to check out our website at www.sharndisplays.com.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sharnenterprisesinc/

Sources:

http://www.calendardate.com/memorial_day.htm

http://publicholidays.us/memorial-day/

Presidents’ Day 2015

With Presidents’ Day today, Monday, February 16^th, we need to all take a step back and think what Presidents’ Day is all about.  Yes, most of us view it as a day off school or off work, but what is the real meaning behind Presidents’ Day?

Presidents’ Day was established back in 1885.  Surprisingly enough, it was not always known as “Presidents’ Day”.  This day was originally created to honor George Washington’s birthday and was celebrated on his exact birthday, February 22^nd.  This became the first holiday to celebrate the life of an individual American that is classified as a national federal bank holiday.  The date did not become known as ‘Presidents’ Day until after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which was an attempt to create more three-day weekend’s for the nation’s workers.  Although the third Monday in February is still listed as “Washington’s birthday” on official calendars, Presidents’ Day is now known as a day to celebrate all United States Presidents, past and present.  Presidents’ Day is used by many patriotic and historical groups as a date for staging celebrations, reenactments, and other such events.

Many states require that their public schools spend the days leading up to Presidents’ Day teaching their students about the accomplishments of the presidents, often with the focus on the lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who happen to be the most recognized leaders.  Abraham Lincoln is often named the number one most influential president due to his actions leading to the abolition of slavery.  Lincoln is then followed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with his recognition in leadership throughout World War II and his hard work to end the Great Depression.  The third most influential president known is, George Washington for becoming the first president of the United States, setting the precedents that would be later followed by other presidents.

So, from here at Sharn Enterprises, Inc, we encourage everyone to remember and celebrate the past and present presidents of the United States this Presidents’ Day.

After all, we are a proud American manufacturer!

For more information about our products and services, please visit our website at www.sharndisplays.com

or our latest video at: http://vimeo.com/7147155

@SharnDisplays

 http://www.facebook.com/sharnenterprisesinc

Thanksgiving: The Past, Present & Future

Many Americans think of Thanksgiving as a time when you sit around the dinner table, stuff yourself full, and then join the madness on Black Friday to get all those great deals.  Some people have begun to skip the gracious dinner all together and begin their shopping on Thanksgiving night.  In fact, 92 million people went shopping on Thanksgiving Day last year, which went up by 3 million from 2012.  Is getting a deal on a TV really what Thanksgiving is about?  In today’s society, we as a whole have begun to lose sight of what Thanksgiving truly is.

Surprisingly, some stores have decided to remain closed on Thanksgiving this year and encourage other businesses to do the same.

TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Nordstrom, Home Depot, Costco, Ace Hardware, Barnes and Noble, Patagonia, Dillard’s, Crate and Barrel, Neiman Marcus, GameStop, Bed Bath & Beyond, Burlington Coat Factory, and REI have all decided to close their doors and enjoy food, family and friends this year.

Sharn Enterprises, Inc will also be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th 2014 so our staff can enjoy the long weekend with family and friends.  Because that’s what it’s all about!

History of Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving is held on the fourth Thursday in November every year and is meant to be celebrated with an overload of food, family and friends to honor the early settlers.  A long time ago, a group of English Protestants (also known as Pilgrims) wanted to break away and venture off to the “New World”.  So, they set out on a sixty-six day voyage across the Atlantic Ocean with 101 men, women, and children.  The goal was to land and settle where current day New York City is, but due to vicious winds, they had to cut their trip short and settle at what we now know as Cape Cod.  This is where the Pilgrims and the Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe (or the Indians as we call them) crossed paths with each other.

When winter season arrived, the Pilgrims gathered anything and everything they could get their hands on, including the Indian’s supplies.  This is where the well-known, beloved Squanto comes into play.  Squanto wanted to avoid any struggle and tension with the Pilgrims, so he took it upon himself to teach the Pilgrims how to grow corn and fertilize their fields using fish.

Finally, after years of unnecessary drama, there was a formal agreement made between the Pilgrims and Indians to protect one other.  Everything was all rainbows and butterflies, until one day the Indians heard gunshot and rushed to the Pilgrims colonies, believing that there was a war to be started.  Much to their surprise, the Pilgrims were only out hunting in order to provide a feast.  For three whole days, the Pilgrims and Indians all ate, played games, and gave thanks together and formed what we now know as Thanksgiving.

On behalf of everyone here at Sharn Enterprises, we remind you to remember the real meaning behind Thanksgiving and have a safe and joyful holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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@SharnDisplays

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Labor Day

Labor Day is Monday, September 1st, and as a small business owner, I would like to thank all of our terrific employees here at Sharn Enterprises.

But when you step back and think about Labor Day as a whole, what do you really know about this annual holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September?

Here are the 7 things you didn’t know about Labor Day and one more you should know:

1. The first Labor Day Celebration was in New York City on Tuesday, September 5th, 1882.

2. Oregon was the first state to declare Labor Day a holiday.  This was done back in 1887.

3. Labor Day origins are Canadian (Canadian Labor Day began in 1873 in Toronto, then quickly spread to the USA.)

4. The holiday marks the end of “Hot Dog Season” as the unofficial “Last Day of Summer.”

5. Labor Day celebrates the contributions and achievements of the 155 million men and women who are in the American workforce.

6. 55% of all American households will barbecue this Labor Day.

7. 94.4% of the time, the NFL plays its first official season game the Thursday after Labor Day.

Bonus fact: 8.  Good, old American quality is still the benchmark that all our foreign competition seeks to achieve.  If we want to maintain a strong society for the generations to come, we need to continue to develop, educate, and support our dedicated American workers!

Enjoy your day off and celebrate the American Worker!

-Roger Wandersee, President of Sharn Enterprises, Inc

For more information about our products and services, make sure to check out http://www.sharndisplays.com or call 815-464-9715.

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