Tag Archives: Labor Day

Labor Day

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It’s Labor Day here in America. This has been a federal holiday since 1894 but it seems a lot of folks don’t know why it exists.

Yes, it’s the unofficial end of summer and yes, it’s a great time to travel and to get good deals on home appliances. But it was actually created because labor activists were pushing for a federal holiday that would call attention to labor issues and recognize the many contributions workers have made to the country’s health and prosperity.

Today, it’s a good time to remember and honor the American workforce. It’s a good time to remember how far we have come from the deplorable working conditions of the industrial age, long hours for low wages, the blatantly unsafe conditions of mining jobs, and the common use of child labor.

Modern people have no idea how easy we have it.

Happy Labor Day

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If you’re in America, this is Labor Day. This federal holiday is designated to honor the American Labor Movement and the contributions of the American worker to the development of the country.

Most people spend it shopping sales, traveling and enjoying the unofficial last gasps of summer rather than thinking about the overall accomplishments of American laborers.

Nonetheless, we enjoy the day and I appreciate the freedoms I have because of my work.

Meanwhile, the end of summer also means the fading of the season’s flowers. They’ll be gone soon so I have been making a point to stop and enjoy them, to literally stop and smell the roses whenever possible.

I hope you will too.

Happy Long Weekend!

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It’s Sunday but, for many of us in America, it’s a long weekend. We have celebrated Labor Day the first Monday in September since 1894 when President Grover Cleveland designated it as a day to celebrate working people.

So, if you’re not working Monday, thank this guy.

His full name was Stephen Grover Cleveland but I guess Stephen Cleveland didn’t have much of a ring to it or just wasn’t as cool as Grover so he went by that middle name.

The New Jersey native was a former teacher, lawyer, sheriff, mayor of Buffalo and New York Governor before becoming our 22nd and 24th President. He is our only President to win two non consecutive terms.

We don’t talk about President Cleveland much but we do have him to thank for this long weekend. So strike up the grill, take a road trip and raise a glass to the American worker.