Labor Day has arrived! Here in the Boothbay region, Labor Day means a lot of different things. For many, it is the last big weekend of summer. The restaurants are busy, the harbor is full, the tour boats are still carrying visitors, and our working waterfront is going about its business.

But Labor Day is also a good time to stop and think about the people who make this community work.

We sometimes talk about the Boothbay region as a tourism community, and certainly tourism is a major part of our economy. But tourism doesn't happen by itself. It takes thousands of people working behind the scenes, and often in very visible ways, to make the experience our visitors enjoy possible.

Our hotels and inns have people making beds and cleaning rooms. Restaurants have cooks, servers and dishwashers working long hours. Our stores have employees serving customers. Our landscapers are working to keep properties looking their best. Our marinas and boatyards are busy. And, of course, our fishermen and lobstermen are out on the water doing what they have done for generations. Don’t forget the first responders who are always ready when needed.

The working waterfront is an especially important part of who we are. It reminds us that this isn't just a beautiful place to visit. It is a place where people live, work and make their living.

There is another group in our community that truly understands the meaning of work and service, our veterans.

One of our service organization’s motto is “Never Stop Serving.” I think that is a pretty good description of the veterans I know in this community.

Military service teaches you that you are part of something bigger than yourself. You learn responsibility. You learn that sometimes the job has to get done regardless of the circumstances. Veterans know other veterans “have their six.”

For many veterans, those lessons don't disappear when they leave the military.

They continue to volunteer. They help other veterans. They serve on boards and committees. They participate in civic organizations. They coach, mentor and lend a hand when someone in the community needs help. In other words, veterans are there for everyone in the community (“have their six”) as well.

That's what “Never Stop Serving” means to me.

So, as we enjoy this Labor Day weekend, I think it is appropriate to recognize everyone who works to make this community what it is. Thank a lobsterman when you see one. Thank the person serving your breakfast. Thank the hotel employee who made your room ready. Thank the small-business owner who works seven days a week during the summer. And thank the volunteers who give their time without expecting anything in return.

And if you see a veteran volunteering somewhere in our community, you might thank them too. They may tell you they are simply doing what they have always done. Serving others.

That's something worth recognizing, not just on Labor Day, but every day.