Somber holiday

When it comes to the reasons for Monday's Labor Day holiday, the U.S. Department of Labor's Web site offers a good historical review.

The first Labor Day celebration was in New York City in 1882 and was organized by the Central Labor Union. By 1894, 31 states were setting aside the first Monday in September for Labor Day. That year, Congress made Labor Day a holiday in the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

In 1909, the AFL designated the Sunday before Labor Day as Labor Sunday, dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The labor movement in the late 19th century and first half of the 20th century was an important force in the adoption of labor laws that established a five-day, 40-hour work week and an eight-hour workday. Overtime laws, restrictions on child labor and other laws to protect the American worker were the result of strong labor lobbying.

On this Labor Day 2005, other thoughts occupy the minds of most Americans. The devastation of Hurricane Katrina is touching our lives in ways we never imagined. While hundreds of thousands of residents in the stricken areas are fighting for survival and beginning to restore some order to their daily existence, others are looking for ways to help.

The biggest weapon right now in the aftermath of this unprecedented storm is cash. The Muscular Dystrophy Association, whose telethon hosted by Jerry Lewis is a staple of Labor Day weekend, has already announced its donation of $1 million to the hurricane relief effort. And Jerry Lewis has asked that donors to MDA also give generously to relief organizations.

Finally, Labor Day is one of the holidays -- the other is Memorial Day -- that unofficially bookend summer and all of its activities. This year's Labor Day celebrations will be muted somewhat by the somber scenes and news media reports from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

In so many ways, Labor Day is a fitting holiday to remember the strengths of the American way and our nation's resourcefulness, even when the clouds are darkest.