When it comes to God’s Country, almost nothing personifies the blue-collar work ethic and spirit of West Virginia more than the coal mines. Before he went off to serve in the Pacific Theater, my grandfather was a part of that mining community and I truly don’t know what he was more proud of -- serving his country or being a part of the industry that helped build the state in which he was born.
As you no doubt have heard by now, that very industry suffered a tremendous loss recently as 29 miners were killed in an explosion and subsequent collapse at a mine in Montcoal, W.Va. It was the worst loss of life in the industry since 1970.
To memorialize those West Virginians killed in the tragedy, West Virginia University announced today plans to honor throughout the season the 29 who lost their lives simply because they were doing their jobs and trying to earn a living. Here’s the press release from the school:
West Virginia University Football Coach Bill Stewart has announced that the football program will display a helmet decal to honor the 29 coal miners who were tragically killed in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster on April 5.
The decal will be a white circle with a black number 29 in the middle of the circle. This decal will be displayed for the WVU Gold-Blue Game on Friday, April 30, and throughout the entire 2010 football season.
“These 29 miners deserve our respect,” Stewart, who lost his uncle, Buss Williams, in a mining accident in 1961 said. “This is a way we can honor what these guys stood for. They were true West Virginians who were working to support their families. That blue collar work ethic is what our program is all about.
“President Jim Clements, Reed Williams, Jock Sanders, Chris Neild, J.T. Thomas and I were invited by Governor Joe Manchin to attend the wreath hanging ceremony in Charleston on Monday. Being there with our group from West Virginia, the Governor, Senator Jay Rockefeller, Congressman Nick Rahall and U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, it was an honor for me to have the opportunity to attend this event in remembrance of these fine West Virginians, who gave their lives in the coal mine disaster.”
