Happy September AND Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day is more than a three-day weekend, a backyard barbecue, or a back-to-school breather. It’s a day to pause and honor the men and women whose hands, hearts, and dedication keep our world moving forward.

I think of those who rise before dawn to keep our streets clean, those who prepare meals in bustling kitchens, those who mop floors long after everyone else has gone home, and those who pour sweat and skill into building and repairing our communities.

I think of the caregivers who tend to the sick, the clerks who keep stores running, the utility crews who restore power after storms, and the countless others who show up faithfully — often unnoticed — always essential.

They are the quiet heroes — not always celebrated, but always needed. Their work is not just about a paycheck; it’s about showing up with integrity, about making life better for others, about contributing to the common good.

The price of success is hard work that comes with determination. That’s exactly what laborers do. Day in and day out, they apply the best of themselves — and we are better because of it.

So today, let’s say thank you. Thank you to the builders and bakers, the drivers and dishwashers, the healers and helpers. Thank you to every pair of hands that lifts a burden, every worker who perseveres when no one is watching.

You may not get a parade in your honor, but you deserve one. You may not get a standing ovation, but let this be one small voice cheering you on! We see you! We appreciate you! And, we applaud you.

“To the quiet heroes who keep our world running — we see you, we thank you, we celebrate you. Happy Labor Day!