The holiday originated out of Canada over labor disputes that were taking place over a nine hour work day. Peter J. McGuire, an American labor leader,  witnessed one of these labor festivals in Toronto, and thought that was a great idea. On September 5th, 1882, the first labor day celebrated in the United Sates took place.

When I was growing up, I never really thought to much about the Labor Day holiday. As a matter of fact, it is one of the least celebrated holidays in the country. Not a lot of thought goes into the professions that keep this country alive and well.

One of the most popular professions that we have heard a lot about, since the attacks on our country on Sept. 11, 2001, is our men and women of the armed services. They are on the front lines risking their lives, 24 7, for our well being and our freedom. So many lives that have been lost, many are only known to the comrades they fought next to, and the family and friends that they left behind. True heroes, each and everyone of them.

There are other professions, that are not so well known, but hold a very important and key roll in the lives of all of us.

Power Linemen, that risk their lives also, to keep the juice flowing to our homes and businesses, that keep our country working round the clock. Workers that have to helicoptered in to work on lines that can not be accessed any other way. They work with extremely high voltage, and one slip up, and they turn into a french fry. They are also working at extremely high altitudes, with lines that are in mountainous regions, out in the middle of no where. The power linesmen had the highest mortality rate back in the early days. Many a linesmen went off to work, never to return to their homes.

Power Linemen video Click on this link to watch a short video about the dangers of a Power Lineman.

Window washers of high rise buildings, divers that keep our sewers clean and running, police and firemen, doctors and nurses,  loggers, who died at a rate of 117.8 per 100,000 workers. Most of them killed by falling trees. Iron workers who have a 58.2 death rate for every 100,000 workers. And the list goes on.

This is why labor unions were formed. Like them or not, they helped the workers and protected their rights.

I worked in an auto company for thirty five years before taking my retirement, and there were times when an ambitious foreman, trying to impress his boss, would put you and maybe your co-workers in danger of serious injury or even death, just to get a job done in a fraction of time. He was trying to look good at your expense. My job now as an internet marketeer, and with United First Financial, is nothing compared to what these people do.

There are so many more, and if you are in one of these professions and I left you out, pleases leave a comment at the end of this blog. I would like to hear from you and any stories that you might have.

I stop and think about it, there are so many people that I owe a big wealth of gratitude too. So many jobs that I never ever think about. I want to take this time now, and personally thank each and everyone of you American laborers, for your dedication and hard work, for putting the needs of others up above the needs of yourself, and for making this great country of ours greater.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and may God richly bless you and your families.