PRINTER'S NO. 2436
No. 390 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY BASTIAN, JULY 1, 2005
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JULY 1, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Commemorating the third anniversary of the miracle at Quecreek
2 Mine, Somerset County, from July 24 through 27, 2005.
3 WHEREAS, A near-tragedy of epic proportions began at the
4 Quecreek coal mine on July 24, 2002, when nine miners became
5 trapped 240 feet below the surface of the mine entrance; and
6 WHEREAS, A greater potential tragedy was averted because of
7 the quick actions of the nine trapped miners who sent an urgent
8 radio warning to the following miners who escaped from icy flood
9 waters:
10 Barry Carlson of Rockwood
11 Doug Custer of Berlin
12 Wendell Horner of Elton
13 Joe Kostyk of Salix
14 Dave Petree of Windber
15 Ryan Petree of Windber
16 Ron Schad of Salix
17 Frank Stewart of Homer City
1 Larry Summerville of Lilly
2 ; and
3 WHEREAS, As the hours became days and the danger of the
4 situation became more and more evident, many heroic people
5 devoted countless hours to saving the nine trapped miners and
6 were unyielding to the possibility that their efforts might be
7 in vain; and
8 WHEREAS, Among these heroes were Governor Mark Schweiker,
9 Secretary of Environmental Protection David E. Hess, coal
10 company representative John Weir, Global Positioning System
11 engineer technician Bob Long, members of the many fire companies
12 of Somerset County, the countless volunteer rescue workers and
13 last, but far from least, the nine trapped miners, whose faith,
14 endurance and raw courage were inspirational:
15 Randy Fogle of Garrett
16 Thomas Foy of Berlin
17 Dennis Hall of Johnstown
18 Ronald Hileman of Gray
19 Harry Mayhugh of Meyersdale
20 John Phillippi of Boswell
21 Mark Popernack of Somerset
22 Robert Pugh of Boswell
23 John Unger of Hollsopple
24 ; and
25 WHEREAS, The miracle at Quecreek is that these men survived,
26 fulfilling the pledge made and repeated often by Governor
27 Schweiker, affirming the efforts of the many people who were
28 involved in the rescue, and enriching the spirit of our nation
29 and the faith of its people; therefore be it
30 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the
20050H0390R2436 - 2 -
1 third anniversary of the miracle at Quecreek Mine, Somerset
2 County, from July 24 through 27, 2005.
F29L82MRD/20050H0390R2436 - 3 -