Labor Day just passed, and for most of us it’s back to our day-to-day work lives. Some, however, have given their lives while performing their jobs. Rather than just celebration, Labor Day should bring us reflection, as well, and commemoration, for ALL workers, including those who have died in the course of their labor.

Currently, the top news stories are filled with stories of bravery among those who work and risk on-the-job illnesses and injuries.  

The doctors who go abroad and face the Ebola virus are doing wonderful but dangerous work and should be applauded.

The two journalists who died recently at the hands of ISIS were of course the two most recent, horrific examples of people who died doing their jobs. In just one week, we will remember those who perished in 9/11. So terrorism is a real, continuing threat to the working world, unfortunately.

However, the every day type of accidents at work that take people’s lives are just as horrendous. It is my opinion that not enough is done in this country to ensure worker safety and to prevent accidents in the workplace.

Our military, police, fire and emergency workers risk their lives to protect us every day. They too must be honored.

How about the poor restaurant manager who lost his life at the Legal Sea Foods restaurant in Suffolk County this past February from carbon monoxide from a faulty water heater? Should he not be remembered too? Or all those construction workers who die on the job and get only a few paragraphs in the newspaper?

My point is, Labor Day is fun and all, but it should also cause us to take pause and celebrate, and remember, and commemorate, labor.