The majority of Americans think of Labor Day as a day off of work and their last chance to go to the beach or pool, or to attend a cookout with friends to celebrate the end of summer. Too often we overlook its original purpose - to celebrate the economic and social contributions of workers, and to remember the extraordinary sacrifices made by union members in their fight for the weekend, paid vacation, sick time and the 40-hour workweek. Though they may seem commonplace today, men and women gave their lives in the struggle for work standards that improved the lives of so many who followed.