"Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country," said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. "All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation."

Instead, Labor Day is dedicated to the achievements of American workers and the contributions they have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Unfortunately, as with other holidays, Labor Day has developed a new meaning. The first Monday in September is seen as the end of summer, not a time to honor the achievements of the working man.

That’s a shame. All we have to do is look around us, look around the nation, and we can see the achievements of the working man. We may be dazzled by the high-tech developments that have become a part of our life, but the truth is we could easily be brought to our knees without the work of the craftsmen, laborers, and other workers whose low-tech jobs are a crucial part of our lives. When you get down to it, the need for a plumber can be more critical than the need for a computer geek.

Sadly, we’re losing sight of the importance of the so-called blue collar jobs, of the skilled carpenters, brick layers, auto mechanics and other craftsmen. We shudder to think what will happen if the day comes when those who enjoy working with their hands, with the sweat of their brow, are all diverted to “professional” positions with more status.

We need to do more than honor America’s working people (if we even think to do that on Labor Day). We need to ensure the continuation of this important part of the workforce.