Happy Labor Day!

Author

Hal Cranmer
September 01, 2025

In America we celebrate this day at the end of August/beginning of September every year. The tradition goes back to 1882. In 1884 our President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a national holiday.

The day honors all the contributions workers have made to the country’s prosperity and well-being.

For many Labor Day also signals the last day of summer. Time for the kids to go back to school.

Ever since I’ve been in the assisted living business, I think of Labor Day as a time to think of people who have gone before us.

There are so many rich stories among my assisted living residents. Entrepreneurs, military veterans, salaried professionals and especially house wives. All of these people contributed to the prosperity we enjoy today.

I’ve had people who:

  • Fought at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II

  • Were POW’s at the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam

  • Bought run down cattle ranches, fixed them up and resold them

  • Sang on the show Hee Haw

  • Owned a flight school

  • Raised amazing children

  • Flew in the Berlin airlift

  • Were airline captains

  • Toured the world as musicians

  • Helped to run a nuclear plant

  • Worked on atomic bombs

  • Operated a paper mill

  • Played girls softball before anyone knew girls played softball

  • Performed insurance inspections for personal injury claims

It’s wonderful to get to know these people and their families on a personal basis. It makes you appreciate what a diverse mix of talents and motivations the human race has.

You really learn we must depend upon each other to truly make a society function well.

So this Labor Day, take a moment to think about the people who have gone before you. The ones who labored very hard to make society a better place. The best way we can thank them for what they have done is to perform labor ourselves. Put in the work to make your contribution to society.

Because some time in the future, we will be nearing the end. And hopefully someone will stop for a minute and remember the contributions we have made.

Happy Labor Day to you and your family!