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 -