For some among us, this weekend marks a three-day holiday, the unofficial end of summer and an opportunity to spend time with friends and family. Labor Day is upon us again, and all those things are good and important.

But have you ever taken a step back and wondered why we celebrate Labor Day?

According to a history provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, the holiday had its origins in the late 1800s, and was meant as a day to celebrate American workers and their contributions to society. A milestone year, 2019 marks 125 years that Labor Day has been celebrated as a national holiday.

While the meaning of the holiday has been somewhat lost in modern times, there is no denying that workers make the world go round. From maintaining our infrastructure, to selling the goods we need to survive, to providing the valuable services we have become accustom to, the contributions of American workers touch our lives every day. The efforts of the worker are the lifeblood of the American economy, and without those efforts, we would fail.

So if you’re one of those hard working people, enjoy the three-day weekend. You deserve it. You put your blood, sweat and tears into what you do, and your contributions mean more than you could know. Maybe take the time to thank someone else for the contributions they make to our society and its prosperity.

At the same time, let’s not forget that there are many among us who will still be laboring on Labor Day. Some do so to protect our lives and property; police, fire, EMS and medical workers don’t always get the day off, and sacrifice their own time with family to keep the rest of us safe. Others, like retail and restaurant workers are so much a part of our daily lives, that their services would be missed sorely, even if just for one day.

Whatever someone does to live, thrive and survive, each plays his or her own role, and every person is important in what they do, deserving of respect. So this weekend, take a minute and give a thought to the workers who built this country, and the ones who keep it going every day.