LEGISLATIVE REPORT: PATRIOTISM AND THE WORK OF THE COMMON AMERICAN

On the last long weekend of summer, we gathered with our friends and family to celebrate Labor Day. As a national holiday, Labor Day does not seem to resemble our other national days of celebration and remembrance. Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day all share the common thread of remembering our nation's conflicts and battles, our triumph over enemies at home and abroad, and our American sons and daughters who put their lives on the line for us. At first glance Labor Day does not seem to share this common thread of patriotic duty, military service, and American victory in war.

By standard definition, Labor Day is our nation's yearly celebration of the American worker. We pay tribute to the contributions American workers make to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. However, I believe that Labor Day is about much more than our contributions to our national economy. As the 19th century historian Alexis de Tocqueville found in his travels into the small communities, the fields and the churches of our young nation, he found America's most precious gift -- the people. People not afraid of hard work. People willing to lend a hand to those in need of help. People with strong faith in God. De Tocqueville found us, the common American. We are the source of our nation's strength, its glory, and its wonder.

As Americans, we place a high value on the principles of freedom and equality. We gain our strength and security knowing that as Americans in a democratic nation we govern ourselves. And as Americans, we admire and respect hard and honest work I We are a culture that says if you work hard you will be rewarded. We believe in merit, in taking risks and in reaching for success.

Work is as ingrained in our American heritage as freedom and democracy.

As individuals, we work hard to secure a good future and to create a productive and fulfilling life for ourselves. We also work hard for our families. We care for our children and we help them learn the ethics and tools they will need to live independent and productive lives themselves one day. Our families are the bedrock of our nation, and the lessons we learn from our families are lessons that we carry through our lives and make us good citizens.

We also work for our friends, neighbors and communities. Indeed, it is our duty. as Americans, to use our God given talents to pursue productive lives and to create fulfilling meaning in our daily work. It is through our meaningful work, be it paid, voluntary, or at home for our loved-ones, that we serve our families and our communities. And in serving our families and our communities we are victorious in building a greater America for ourselves. our children and our children's children.

The way I see it, Labor Day is a celebration of ourselves and our daily duty, service, and victories as American workers in our fields, our trades, our offices, our homes and our communities. We celebrate because America is built by our good and hard work, on our thoughtful and tireless dedication, and on our vigilant stride towards excellence and equality. And in this way it seems that Labor Day may not be that different from Memorial Day, or the Fourth of July, or Veterans' Day after all. We may not celebrate Labor Day with the same grand fanfare of fireworks, flags, and anthems. But I believe that our Labor Day celebration is just as much about patriotism and pride. Labor day is every bit as much about our duty, our service, and our victory as common Americans.