Labor Day: Peter McGuire envisioned it, Grover Cleveland established it and now virtually every American – working and otherwise – celebrates it.

In Lawrence, the traditional passing of summer often finds itself less defined by its formal underpinnings – a recognition of labor’s rising influence, pushed by union leader McGuire and finally endorsed formally with President Cleveland’s signing, on June 28, 1894, of a bill establishing a Labor Day holiday – and more by what goes with it: a backyard barbecue, a football game or simply a day away from the office.

Here are impressions from three Lawrence residents for whom Labor Day carries special significance.

Karen Glotzbach, engineer and paramedic

The engineer and paramedic for Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical shows up for work with a healthy appreciation for organized labor.

Karen Glotzbach, engineer and paramedic

Her mother’s a business agent for the Teamsters in Topeka. Her late father was a Teamster. Her grandfather was an iron worker, a dedicated union man.

Now she’s proud to be a member of the International Association of Firefighters and appreciates just what it means to mark a holiday established by union workers and now honors all workers nationwide.

“To me, it’s a celebration of labor, for all the workers in the United States who have brought our country to where it is today, and who have afforded the working class compensations, such as the benefits we all enjoy: our insurance, our 40-hour work week, our vacation, our sick time, our equal treatment for everyone.

“Among Americans, it’s a huge celebration of where we’ve brought our country and its work force.”

Richard Haig, mechanic and owner of Westside 66

The owner of Westside 66 bought his business 21 years ago this Labor Day weekend – nearly a year to the day after getting married – and hasn’t put on the brakes since.

Richard Haig, mechanic and owner of Westside 66 & Carwash, will provide some basic car maintenance tips during an upcoming Skillbuilders program.

While workers throughout the area will be grilling or just plain relaxing all day Monday, he’ll be spending his holiday at work in the garage at Sixth Street and Schwarz Road – starting an 11-hour shift at 7 a.m.

And only Kim Haig might be complaining.

“My wife wishes I would take more holidays away. Most of the time on Labor Day weekend – because of our anniversary – we’ll get away and do some other things, but I’ll be here this year and keep the place going. :

“To me, (Labor Day) isn’t so much about labor as it’s the end of a long summer. For us, the summer’s nutty. Cars don’t like heat; they fail a lot in the summertime. Labor Day is kind of the changing of the seasons for us. It’s a chance to take a deep breath and relax and get things ready before we get into the fall season.

Hossein Gerami, president of Copy Co. Inc.

“It’s an easier pace. We don’t run an appointment schedule like we do the rest of the year. We just take emergency work as it comes in, so it’s a lot more relaxed that day. So it’s like taking a break, still, because the pace is so different.”

Hossein Gerami, president of Copy Co. Inc.

The president of Copy Co. lives in Lawrence, but his appreciation for Labor Day traces back to his early days – owning a distribution business as a teenager living in Tehran, importing water pumps and generators with clients in Japan and Italy.

“All over the world, they celebrate May 1 as Labor Day – except the United States. Every country has a labor day and shows their appreciation for their employees.”

Here in Kansas, Gerami – who came to Lawrence to study food and nutrition at Kansas University – plans a low-key approach to the holiday. All 36 employees at his printing locations in Lawrence, Manhattan and Salina have Monday off.

“It’s a day we show respect for our employees, for what they have done throughout the year. My employees are like my family.”