Marking the end of two American icons

Memorial Day weekend is always an emotional time for me. It is important to remember the reasons for holidays. We should all take a moment in the midst of the festivities associated with a long weekend to pay honor to our fallen military. Placing or displaying a flag is a good way to pay one’s respect.

On the lighter side, there will be parades, barbecues and gatherings, good times in the parks or at beaches. There will be baseball and basketball games, auto racing and a broad array of outdoor activities. Additionally, students are graduating or completing the school year.

Amidst all the holiday activities during this weekend, I would suggest that we reflect on the two business losses this year. In particular, I am referring to the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Baily Circus, which held its last performance this month. Secondly, earlier this year the organization commonly known as Sears filed for bankruptcy.

There is much to be said for both organiztions that were a part of our country for more than 100 years. The history of the organizations and the impact they have had on the cultural fabric of the United States — and in some instances the world — is significant.

Each organization, for decades, was the best in its business category. Saying “the circus” was synonymous with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Chicago skyline was and continues to be dominated by the iconic Sears Tower.

I remember a time when nearly everyone in a given community went to the local Sears store. The stores were a symbol of economic stability for a community. Their branding of “Good, Better and Best” made it easy for shoppers to find the products with the desired features and price points. In those lofty times, most of the products in the store bore the “Made in the USA” label. Also, for many, a Sears store credit card was an important step on the economic ladder.

The Sears catalogue changed shopping and was an economic disrupter when introduced in the 1890s. For decades, it was a valuable marketing tool for the company, an educational tool for shoppers eager to learn about new products and technologies, and on occasion the catalogue would serve as a booster seat for little ones at the dinner table.

“The Greatest Show on Earth” will no longer be coming to town. There are other circus troupes traveling across the country and small carnivals still appear in parking lots and fields in many towns. Summer was the time when families would check the local listings for the closest location for the Ringling Brothers circus. It is not often that the “best” is a short drive away.

Attending the Ringling Brothers circus had the feeling of a rite of passage for many. Generations could share the common experience of circus attendance. The cultural and community cohesiveness associated with circus attendance cut across all demographics. It was and is an American experience.

Memorial Day offers us a time to remember the fallen and to develop new strategies to prevent future losses.