Happy Labor Day!  For most people, Labor Day is the ultimate long weekend – it’s the end of summer and the beginning of fall, celebrated by many by heading to the beach, enjoying family BBQs, or spend time relaxing by the pool.  It is a weekend of celebrations, which is appropriate because Labor Day itself is a celebration of the achievements of the American workers and the contributions they have made to the prosperity of our country.

Here are a few facts about Labor Day:

• The first Labor Day occurred on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City, planned by the Central Labor Union.
• Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday in 1887.
• It was established nationwide as a holiday in 1894.
• The eight-hour workday was established in 1916.

However you choose to celebrate the end of summer on this Labor Day, take a minute to thank yourself and all of the hard-working Americans who helped to build this nation – past, present, and future.