The first Monday of September brings with it a yearly reprieve from work and normal duties for most. Labor Day, in addition to being the unofficial end of summer across the United States, is a day and a moment dedicated to honoring the American labor movement, and the contributions workers have made to the prosperity and well-being of this country.

Labor Day brings with it the inception of fall as well as a reminder of one element that has made this country what it is, the American workforce.

Since our nation’s inception, this country has been pushed, sometimes dragged, forward thanks to the sweat and effort from hard, difficult work done by capable, relentless workers.

Generations of families and workers have continued, day after day, year after year, to ensure our country has been a place of economic, political, cultural and religious freedom.

Today is a day to rest, it is also a day reserved to remember the work that has been done by those who came before us that has allowed us to live in this country.

It is also a day to look ahead, an opportunity to be inspired by the efforts of those that predate us.

Today, let us look to the creations that have resulted from the work of those before us, let us draw inspiration from these and strive for better, strive to improve our lives and our communities.

The LaGrange and Troup County communities know and understand the value of hard work. It permeates the culture here and is obvious in every business, every church and every community group throughout the county. More businesses are arising each month, and the economy of the county as a whole continues to rise.

This does not happen by accident. It is the result of ordinary people working hard to make their city and lives better than they were last week, last month and last year.

There has been and continues to be much hard work done here to move the community forward.

Today, rest and contemplate fresh ways to continue this trend. 

Happy Labor Day, LaGrange. Enjoy today, there’s work to be done tomorrow.