Is there anyone more nobler, more pure in heart than the men and women who have devoted their lives to the art of technical concert preparation and maintenance? However, roadies do more than set up the stage for Paul McCartney, and tear it down for Usher. Being a roadie is almost like being a knight on a crusade – a crusade to better humanity’s lot on this chunk of rock we call Earth.

Do you remember your first encounter with a roadie? Perhaps you were five and she was the kind lady who helped you when you got separated from your parents at the Ticketmaster. Or maybe it was at 22, when you and your college roommates were sharing that room in Daytona for spring break and a passing roadie took the time to teach you how to properly trash hotel furniture. Ah, yes, we all have memories like that. Memories that are rekindled whenever we see the road crews for Blues Traveler, Pet Shop Boys and O-Town.

Of course, Hollywood has had its share of roadie spectaculars. Remember Gregory Peck and Katherine Hepburn finding romance in Roadie Holiday? Or Bob Hope and Bing Crosby disguised as the lead camel in a caravan in On The Roadie To Morocco? And who could ever forget Mel Gibson riding that Deep Purple tour bus to Armageddon in The Roadie Warrior? Yes, our culture loves roadies.

And now it’s time to show that love. Please support the movement for Congress to declare this day, April 8, National Roadie Day. For if we can persuade our lawmakers to declare this day a national holiday honoring the gallant men and women who work tirelessly for a-ha, Long Beach Short Bus and Echo & The Bunnymen, not only will we have a paid holiday falling in between New Year’s Day and Memorial Day, but we’ll be saying “thank you” to roadies everywhere.

And who knows? Maybe we can even take in a show on National Roadie Day, like Anne Murray or The Allman Brothers Band? Of course, the roadies may gripe about having to work on their very own holiday, but hey, that’s what they get paid for. Right?