Rest and Relax on Labor Day!

Well, well, well, it's the first day of 'ber! September, that is! Yes, it's the first day of all the four 'bers of the last months in our calendar!

Btw, what day is it today? Monday! The first Monday of September, to be exact. What comes to mind? Labor Day! (It's a holiday, for all we know!) Happy Labor Day, everyone!

Today is a day off for our indefatigable laborers, workers, employees, civil or military, local or national. Yes, they deserve this special day, a federal holiday, to have a good/great time to be with their family and friends. It's a day (supposed to be) filled with rest and relaxation for them. Thank God for our laborers and workers, employees who toil day and night to keep America beautiful, clean, free, safe, peaceful, progressive, and great. God bless America! God bless US always!

This morning, while I was pondering today's observance of Labor Day, I thought of the many contributions our men and women, past and present, have done to make America the Land of the Free, a land of opportunity, justice, liberty and equality. May we pray for them as we continue to do our part to work hard and smart for our families and communities, and for the common good, and for the glory of God, our Heavenly Father/Creator of the Universe.

I would like to share with you what I have read something about today's observance of Labor Day. Let's begin...Labor Day is observed, annually, in the United States and her neighboring country Canada on the first Monday of September. Other countries around the world also celebrate or observe Labor Day, but on different dates. (As far as I know, The Philippines observes Labor Day on May 1st, each year.)

In the U.S. of A, Labor Day is a day to honor all past and present workers who have contributed and continue to do so to make America a better place to live in. The question of how did Labor Day originate is not clear, according to urban legend. However, there is the belief or notion that the idea came from two men, Matthew Maguire and Peter McGuire, both union members. (Btw or by the way, a union is an organization that represents the rights and interests of types of workers, such as those of Steel Workers Union.) To honor and pay tribute to their fellow workers, the two successfully organized parades and celebrations, on two separate occasions. On the other hand, a labor union, known as the Knights of Labor, was founded in 1869. It held a parade in New York City on September 5, 1882, to recognize all the hard work and contributions of its members and other laborers. With the success of that parade, consequently, other parades were held in other cities. Eventually, President Grover Cleveland (1885-1889 and 1893-1897) declared Labor Day  a national holiday in June 1894. This means that all banks and many private businesses, schools, Federal and state offices were closed. Hence, it is a day of rest and relaxation for majority of our employees, laborers and workers nationwide; a day for families and/or friends to get together as they celebrate the last, unofficial, day or activity of summer, prior to back to school day the following day, Tuesday. It means that students and teachers will return to school again for the start of a new school year. That means that their summer vacation is over, with the exception of those home-schooled.

There we have it, my dear folks and friends. Hope you have a restful and relaxing Labor Day! May God bless US always!-chris a. quilpa, 01Sep2014