MCALLEN, Texas - On this, Thanksgiving Day, we would like to give thanks to the Ditch Diggers of America.
Joey Trevi\xf1o, executive director of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, recommended we watch a video on YouTube titled Ditch Diggers.
Trevi\xf1o said he tries to play the video at all the classes he hosts.\xa0
\u201cIt's a poem that a construction worker put together. And I put it in some of the meetings that I put together and I've had people crying,\u201d Trevi\xf1o explained.
The video features a poem by Eric Borden about the importance of people that work in the construction industry and those that make a living through a skilled trade.
The caption to the video reads: \u201cAfter hearing someone refer to people who don't go to college as "ditch diggers" in a not-so-flattering way, Eric was inspired to write a powerful poem that reversed the negative connotation of blue-collar workers.\xa0
\u201cEric's poem has inspired many individuals in and out of skilled trades by shining a light on the importance of people who build this world and love what they do. In turn, it inspires acts of kindness, which is how #ThankADitchDigger was born.\u201d
Responding to Trevi\xf1o\u2019s request, the Guardian agreed to check out Borden\u2019s video and upload it to our website. Which we have.
Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website to read the full story.
Editor's Note: The attached is an audio recording of our interview with Trevi\xf1o.
To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.