This Labor Day marks the 125th anniversary of celebrating the American worker. As tribute to the American workforce, this week’s Two-Way Radio Tip will illuminate some relatively unknown history of how Labor Day came to be.

For 22 years, Discount Two-Way Radio has provided hard-working Americans employed in the industries of education, facilities management, construction, manufacturing, gas and oil, public safety, and logistics professional-grade RCA two-way radios like the BR200, the RDR1520, and the RDR2500. These radios provide American workers tough, affordable, and reliable communications with just a push of a button in order to save time, money, and sometimes even lives.

That’s why Discount Two-Way Radio recognizes and honors the social and economic achievements of the American worker. Through their persistence, long hours, and ingenuity, the American worker has single-handedly made huge contributions to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our county.

A Little History About the Very First Labor Day Celebration

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this year will mark 125th anniversary of celebrating the greatest workers in the world – the American worker. But not many people realize that the very first time American laborers planned to celebrate their ranks for people of New York City almost never happened!

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. That morning, a crowd of spectators filled the sidewalks of lower Manhattan along Broadway. People showed up early that morning to grab a vantage point to view the very first Labor Day parade extravaganza. However, the organizers began to get worried because while there were various union workers available to march, there were no bands or music of any kind. Without music it would be a silent march resembling more of a funeral procession than a parade. Newspaper articles from that day reported that many of the spectators and organizers started to disperse, suggesting the whole idea be cancelled.

The Father of Labor Day Never Gave Up

However, Mathew Maguire representing the Central Labor Union of New York City (and considered the “Father of Labor Day” by many) was determined to never allow this display of American might wilt like a weak flower. He assembled as many workers as possible and even started to practice a song that could be sung as they walked. Then suddenly, a quiet rumbling started to come over the crowd, and rumors started to spread that two hundred marchers from the Jewelers Union from Newark, New Jersey had just crossed the ferry — and they had a band!

The marching jewelers and their musical band turned onto lower Broadway escorted by mounted police to the joy of the entire City. Soon other workers joined the procession, followed by spectators. By the end of morning, it was estimated that thousands of men and women participated in the first ever Labor Day parade in the United States.

The New York Tribune wrote, “The windows and roofs and even the lamp posts and awning frames were occupied by persons anxious to get a good view of the first parade in New York of workingmen of all trades united in one organization.”

By noon the huge crowd of marchers reached the termination point of the parade. While some returned to work, most continued with post-parade festivities that included speeches, a grand picnic, an abundance of cigars, and “Lager beer kegs… mounted in every conceivable place.” It is estimated that from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m., more than 25,000 union members and their families filled Central Park for the nation’s very first Labor Day celebration.

The Holiday Is Made Official

Two years later, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday celebrating the advances of the American worker.

With more than 64,000 clients relying on our two-way radios to complete their jobs safely and efficiently, Discount Two-Way Radio pays tribute to the origin of so much of our nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.