West Virginia mining community reflects on Sago tragedy

Published: 2006-01-11

PHILIPPI, W.Va. (CNS) -- Members of St. Elizabeth Parish in Philippi and their families have a long history with the coal mining industry. Ask anyone in the town and they will most likely name members of their families who work in area mines. It is a proud community of West Virginia, as are all coal mining communities of the state, whose residents sympathize with the families of the 12 miners who died at the Sago Coal Mine in Upshur County. Three of the miners were from Philippi and were well-known in the area. "My heart just aches for them because I have lived with this for my entire life," said St. Elizabeth parishioner Gretchen Cleavenger, who has many coal miners in her family. Steve Guire, a miner at the Sentinel Coal Mine in Philippi, was deeply affected by the Sago Mine tragedy because he knew 61-year-old Jim Bennett of Philippi, who died in the disaster. Guire said people should appreciate miners' work. "Every time you flip on a light switch or turn your heater up -- we did that. You have electricity in your house because we go underground every day and bring the coal out," Guire said. "We're not superheroes, we're daddies and husbands and that's it."

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