On this Labor Day weekend, remember our men and women who are working

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Earlier this year, we published a photo of a Navy search-and-rescue swimmer, Andrew Johnstone, who was participating in maneuvers aboard the USS Green Bay.

Johnstone is from Charleston, and when we published his photo in March several folks got in touch with us, including his family, to tell us how much they appreciated seeing how our young service members were working to keep our country and community safe.

This week the Navy Office of Community Outreach sent us another image and story, this time of Operations Specialist 1st Class Jacob Smith of Charleston.

Smith is aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney, which is deployed to Rota, Spain. He and his shipmates aboard the Carney are supporting America’s allies, partners and our national security interests in Europe and Africa, the Navy said.

Once again, this isn’t technically “business news.” But while the U.S. military, defense contractors, the coastline and the port certainly fall into the local economy, a lot of us are about to enjoy a long weekend for Labor Day.

So when you’re in your backyard eating hot dogs or out on the water enjoying a lazy afternoon float, think of Seaman Johnstone and Specialist Smith, and all of the police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, EMS workers and others who are working for all of us.