HOLIDAYS: Switch would help familie

Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go. One hundred ten years ago, before we had automobiles, families lived close to each other. But now young people have to go where the work is, in most cases 500 and more miles from their parents' home. Consequently, family members, siblings, children, grandchildren, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins don't see each other very often, and in many cases don't know each other.

PLAN A: To make it easier for families to get to know each other better, the Friday before Labor Day should be a legal federal paid holiday. That way, family members could travel on Friday, visit and get better acquainted on Saturday and Sunday, travel home on Monday, and go back to work and school on Tuesday. The roads are not icy on Labor Day weekend, as they are for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

PLAN B: For those who think that we don't need another paid federal legal holiday, consider moving Veterans' Day, which is close to Thanksgiving, to the Friday before Labor Day.

From World Book Encyclopedia we read: "In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as Armistice Day. In 1954, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day to honor all veterans."

Now that Frank Buckles, the last WWI veteran passed away on Feb. 27, 2011, I think Veterans Day should be moved to the Friday before Labor and it would be called Veterans/Family Day. That would give us a four-day weekend, when the roads are not icy for families to get together and get to know each other better. Families could travel on Friday, get acquainted and visit on Saturday and Sunday, then travel home on Monday and go back to school and work on Tuesday.

Take a little time and write to your congressman.

NATE BRENNEISE

Payette