The working man rises early and works late,
does his job and he does it quite well.
Deserving more then the boss compensates,
some wishing to tell the boss to go to hell.
But the work ethic his parents instilled in him,
keep him steady and on the job each day.
Takes life and family serious, not a whim,
he rises early each day to earn his pay.
Let us honor the working woman and man,
for they make this country strong and free.
Military, shopkeepers, mechanics, electrician,
factory workers, work hard for you and me.
A labor of love can be rewarding to the soul,
to do and be the best a worker can be.
Be proud as you work towards life's goals,
today relax and enjoy this day with family.
Labor Day is the celebration of the value and dignity of work, and its role in the American way of life.
As the Industrial Revolution took hold of the nation, the average American in the late 1800s worked 12-hour days, seven days a week in order to make a basic living. Children were also working, as they provided cheap labor to employers and laws against child labor were not strongly enforced.
With the long hours and terrible working conditions, American unions became more prominent and voiced their demands for a better way of life. On Tuesday September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers marched from city hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first-ever Labor Day parade. Participants took an upaid day-off to honor the workers of America, as well as vocalize issues they had with employers. As years passed, more states began to hold these parades, but Congress would not legalize the holiday until 12 years later.