Labor Day: Thanking Those Who Labor!

Beautiful women who "labor" as they do a miles and miles long walk to raise money for great causes and who give of themselves to help others. They don't get paid but they help anyway! — Beautiful women who “labor” as they do a miles and miles long walk to raise money for great causes and who give of themselves to help others. They don’t get paid but they help anyway!

Other than the fact that we get a day off for the holiday and kids don’t have to go to school we probably don’t know much about the significance of Labor Day. We know it’s always the first Monday in September. We “assume” it has something to do with working and we know it’s a federal holiday we really don’t know much about it as we sit in the kayak or boat and sip a cool beverage.

Well, I did a little bit of research about Labor Day, and it has nothing to do with mothers giving birth after going through labor. It’s not that kind of labor that’s being honored…..that’s Mother’s Day in May.

Thank you to pastors with a sense of humor and love of what they do....but they labor. Being a pastor in a small community? A calling, because you have a lot of people to shepherd. Thank you, Pastor Gill! (Photo taken last Halloween!) — Thank you to pastors with a sense of humor and love of what they do….but they labor. Being a pastor in a small community? A calling, because you have a lot of people to shepherd. Thank you, Pastor Gill! (Photo taken last Halloween!)

I digress……Labor Day was created out of the labor movement and its been celebrated by Americans for over 100 years. This holiday honors the dedication and hard work of American workers all over the country whose accomplishments, through the decades, have made life easier and far better for most Americans.

How about people like Steve Keefe and his wife who labor to give back and be so much a part of the community they love? Remember, when you volunteer for projects, labor is involved. Thanks, Steve.

Although millions of Americans don’t know much about it other than they get a day off from work (probably). It has been celebrated since 1885 after municipal ordinances were passed. Not surprisingly, the first state to bring forth a bill to celebrate “the working man” was in the state of New York. However, apparently the state of Oregon gets credit for being the first state to pass legislation to honor the worker since they approved it in February 1887.

Where would we be without firefighters? Thank you firefighters everywhere!

How about our military? They certainly don't get the "big bucks" but boy, do they labor. Thanks to all of them! — How about our military? They certainly don’t get the “big bucks” but boy, do they labor. Thanks to all of them!

In the last several decades, in some ways, Labor Day is synonymous with the end of summer and “back to school.” The original purpose was to honor “laborers” all over the country whether they are teachers, plumbers, newspaper writers, taxi drivers, etc., etc., etc. For a lot of people they simply celebrate having a day off of work.You might want to give this some thought…..what in the world would we do without people who don’t get much credit but work at their job and give it their all? I believe that would encompass about 80 percent of the work force.

So the next time you’re in a store and a salesperson or the worker who helps load the groceries into the big brown bags, surprise them. Tell them thank you, especially on Labor Day. If you happen to know a woman in labor you might want to thank her too. After all, none of us would be on the planet if it weren’t for them!

How about spiritual and loving pastors who pastor their flocks in small communities? It's their calling but it involves mental and physical labor. Happy Labor Day to all of them, and to those who love them. — How about spiritual and loving pastors who pastor their flocks in small communities? It’s their calling but it involves mental and physical labor. Happy Labor Day to all of them, and to those who love them.

Where in the world would we be without firefighters? Thank you, Glenn Barley and all who are part of the brotherhood of firefighters around the globe.

Thank you to teachers and administrators who have such tough jobs and do what they do because they love it.

How about the dance teachers at Lake Arrowhead School of Dance and the music teachers from Rim High School who worked to bring marvelous productions to our elementary school children, thanks to the Arrowhead Arts Association.

Where would we be without to man our shops and stores? Picture in front of Jensen's Running Springs. — Where would we be without to man our shops and stores? Picture in front of Jensen’s Running Springs.

Four more states followed and by 1894 many more states joined in and by 1894 Congress passed an act that made the first Monday in September a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and in the territories . So, that was that. With all the states and the territories taking part, that’s how it began.

So now, if you’re ever on Jeopardy you’ll know the answer. However, don’t be too cocky because, like so many other things, there are a few versions of how this holiday got to be a holiday and who was responsible. Isn’t it funny how things don’t change!