~Sago~

We just got back from a family reunion this wknd..... It was GREAT to see them all and the kids (as usual) LOVED the mountains and their play time with their cousins!

While we were down there this time we drove by the Sago Mine.... Both Mom and I were "shocked" to see just how monstrous this place really is!

When the Sago disaster occurred it touched our family deeply simply because this (IS) the chosen profession of ALOT of our family members.....

We've even had a few relatives that have worked Sago... And when the Sago disaster happened it literally "shook" my Uncles windows.....

Seeing Sago brought back alot of the emotions that I had when the disaster occurred....

It broke my heart to drive by the church where all of the families gathered, then seeing that mine? Well it just was too much.....

The eery part of this is when we arrived at my uncles house last night CNN had a hour long documentary on Sago.... (we had NO clue and it was playing when we walked in)

The mine is now closed, although coal trucks were going in and out while we were there....

The disaster didn't stop the morning they found the miners...... Since that day 3 of the survivors have committed suicide...... NOT alot of news on that, I guess it wasn't "worthy" of national news coverage...

The locals will tell you all about it tho and when you do a search on google for it, you'll only see stories about 2 of the 3.....

Mining is a dangerous job, but these men are brave souls who have to support a family.... and in this area of the country mining is about the only "well paying" job around....

I'm PROUD of my Uncles and Cousins who have worked the mines, they've risked their lives for years to provide for their loved ones.....

In loving memory



Thomas "Tom" Paul Anderson, age 39
Alva Martin "Marty" Bennett, age 51
James Arden "Jim" Bennett, age 61 (shuttle car operator)
Jerry Lee Groves, age 56
George Junior Hamner, age 54
Terry Michael Helms, age 50 (fire boss)
Jesse Logan Jones, age 44
David William Lewis, age 28
Martin Toler Jr. age 51 (mine foreman)
Fred Gay "Bear" Ware Jr., age 58
Jackie Lynn Weaver, age 51
Marshall Cade Winans, age 50