PRINTER'S NO. 1273
No. 151 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY KASUNIC, JUNE 30, 2007
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JUNE 30, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of July 22 through 29, 2007, as "Nine for
2 Nine Remembrance Week" in Pennsylvania, commemorating the
3 fifth anniversary of the heroic and unyielding efforts of
4 those persons involved in the rescue of the nine coal miners
5 trapped in the Quecreek coal mine, Somerset County, from July
6 24 through 27, 2002.
7 WHEREAS, A near-tragedy of epic proportions began at the
8 Black Wolf Mining Company's Quecreek coal mine on July 24, 2002,
9 when nine miners became trapped 240 feet below the surface of
10 the mine entrance; and
11 WHEREAS, Due to the actions of the nine trapped miners, a
12 greater potential tragedy was averted when an urgent radio
13 warning was sent by the trapped miners to another crew who were
14 able to escape from icy flood waters; and
15 WHEREAS, As days passed and the danger of the situation
16 became more and more evident, many heroic people devoted
17 limitless hours to saving the nine trapped miners and were
18 unyielding to the possibility that their efforts might be in
19 vain; and
1 WHEREAS, The true heroes of the event, the nine trapped
2 miners, demonstrated exceptional faith, endurance and raw
3 courage: Randy Fogle of Garrett, Thomas Foy of Berlin, Dennis
4 Hall of Johnstown, Ronald Hileman of Gray, Harry Mayhugh of
5 Meyersdale, John Phillippi of Boswell, Mark Popernack of
6 Somerset, Robert Pugh of Boswell and John Unger of Hollsopple;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, Other true heroes included then-Governor Mark S.
9 Schweiker and the leadership team he assembled, along with the
10 many fire companies and volunteer rescue workers of Somerset
11 County; and
12 WHEREAS, The miracle which occurred at the Quecreek coal mine
13 is that all nine miners survived the ordeal, thereby originating
14 the "nine for nine" legacy while affirming the efforts of the
15 many people who were involved in the rescue and enriching the
16 spirit of our nation and the faith of its people; therefore be
17 it
18 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of July 22
19 through 29, 2007, as "Nine for Nine Remembrance Week" in
20 Pennsylvania; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That the Senate commemorate the heroism shown by
22 former Governor Mark S. Schweiker, his leadership team, the fire
23 company and volunteer rescue workers and coal miners Randy
24 Fogle, Thomas Foy, Dennis Hall, Ronald Hileman, Harry Mayhugh,
25 John Phillippi, Mark Popernack, Robert Pugh and John Unger on
26 those inspiring days of July 24 through 27, 2002.
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