A beautiful ending to a beautiful Labor Day

Leon County residents and guests were treated to a spectacular sunset to end this Labor Day 2010. Sherry’s Shots How did you spend your Labor Day? Did you labor? Did you kick back and read a book? Did you go dove hunting? Or maybe you went swimming and had a cookout. These are all typical activities for the holiday most folks enjoy, but few understand why we get the day off.

It all goes back to 1882, when the first Labor Day was observed and then became a federal holiday in 1894. It was during this time that a large number of union workers were killed by the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during a labor strike. In hopes of soothing hurt feeling and easing tension Congress rushed through legislation making Labor Day a national holiday. In early days cities held large parades with speeches from prominent men and women to show support for workers, especially union workers.

Today most of us think of Labor Day as the end of summer. Until fairly recently school began the day after Labor Day and school kids enjoyed their last day of freedom. Even now, with school beginning a few weeks earlier, the holiday is still the symbol of the beginning of football season, the state fair and fall colors.

Although there are few, if any, parades in these parts on Labor Day many of our local residents observe the holiday by flying the U.S. flag. Others use the day to get together and have one last cookout and maybe take a swim.

This particular Labor Day, always observed on the first Monday of September, was unusually pleasant with temperatures in the upper 80’s and an exquisite sunset to end the day.