9-07-2020 1:31am

Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?

Rick Amburgey Neighbor

Why do we celebrate Labor Day? Sure, it is called the unofficial end of summer. It's a long weekend and it's known for a nice fireworks display. I watched the WEBN Western & Southern fireworks display from the Kentucky Motor Speedway. Aimee Plesa said when she heard the theme was Hindsight 2020, she hoped there would be song remakes. "They did a great job of blending originals with covers and Land of Confusion was the perfect way to end the show for all of the insanity this year has given us," she said.

It was a good show and I'm glad they were able to have it. Labor Day isn't about fireworks. I know a lot of people are planning bar-b-ques for tomorrow. I'm planning to have ribs and I'm looking forward to that. There's more to Labor Day than bar-b-ques.

If you don't know, don't feel bad. I thought it had something to do with workers (laborers as my dad used to call them), but I had to look it up to find specific information about Labor Day. It's about honoring the workers. There was a time, particularly during the Industrial Revolution, when factories were dangerous places. There was a lack of regulations and workers were forced to work 12 hours or more a day. While factories can still be dangerous places, they have come a long way over the years. The first Monday in September became known as Labor Day when President Grover Cleveland signed it into law in 1894.

I recognize the sacrifices that workers made because my dad worked in a paper factory almost all my life. He worked at Franklin Boxboard in Franklin. It was torn down after he retired, but the factory treated our family well. Dad put in a lot of hours there and he missed a lot of my childhood. Some of those long hours were by choice. He volunteered for a lot of double shifts. He made a lot of extra money that way. It helped put food on our table, helped take us on trips, helped put presents under the Christmas tree and help pay for my college education.

There were times when he worked 16-hour shifts that weren't his choice. He said that he had to work a double if the person who was supposed to relieve him didn't show up and hadn't traded shifts with another employee. It's one thing if you volunteer for extra hours, but I don't think a person should be required to work 16 hours at any job, especially a dangerous one like a factory.

I remember going inside the factory when I was young. I recognized that it was dangerous. I understand what people who work in that environment have to endure to make money. It is a good way to make money. Dad mentioned that there were college kids who worked there during the summer so they could make money for college. Even if I wanted to work in a factory, it wouldn't have been a good fit for me because of my physical limitations.

While you are enjoying Labor Day, I hope you take some time to think of the workers in this country.