NEW YORK -- NOV 9, 2018 -- Kim Joiner's face lit up with excitement when she picked up the twenty-inch gavel -- ready to ring the bell. Ten U.S. military members stood with her, in the balcony overlooking the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) just before the close of business. On cue, amidst much applause and shouting, Joiner closed business for the day by ringing the bell.
Joiner, in her role as Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Outreach, stood with NYSE President Stacey Cunningham in the balcony as a guest of the exchange, the largest stock trading floor in the world. Cunningham said, "We are extraordinarily proud of our military members and glad to have them here as guests today. The fact that we have a strong military allows us to have a free economy." Joiner added, "This Veterans Day weekend we're celebrating our voluntary military force -- only 1 percent of Americans serve in the military today. We want more people to know about us and what we do."
Joiner is highlighting #KnowYourMil, an outreach initiative designed to build a greater connection between the American public and the military. Today, fewer than 9 percent of Americans have ever served in the military and while most Americans have a positive view of the military, many don't know anyone who has ever served. Through the #KnowYourMil initiative, she hopes to change that.
A few minutes before, U.S. Marine Maj. Neil Ruggiero cut the cake on the floor in honor of the Marines 243rd Birthday and distributed cake first to the oldest and youngest Marines in attendance and soon afterwards to crew members from USS Oak Hill and many civilian guests on the floor for the ringing event.
U.S. Army Col. Gina Wandler stood next to Joiner in the balcony. "Today's event represents a collegial relationship between our strong military and the center of our nation's economy. It's an honor -- and a lot of fun to be here today."
Lt. j.g. Brian Tsai of Florence S.C., serving aboard USS Oak Hill, in port for Veterans Day liberty, said ,"I was really pleased to be invited today. It's a once in a lifetime experience -- especially for someone who has just started experimenting with investing."
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.10.2018 10:39 |
| Story ID: | 299515 |
| Location: | NEW YORK, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 102 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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