From the limestone used to make your coffee cup to the 35 different minerals that go into making a TV, the work of America’s miners touches every one of us in myriad ways. And each day, more than 366,000 men and women go to work in approximately 13,600 surface and underground mines across the country.
To honor their contribution to our way of life, Sunday, December 6, has been set aside as National Miners Day. Congress created this unofficial holiday in 2009 to show appreciation for America’s miners and remember the unsung heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to provide the raw materials that play a critical role in all of our lives.
December 6 was chosen as National Miner’s Day as it marks the anniversary of the 1907 explosion at the Monongah, West Virginia mine that killed 362 miners—which was the worst mining accident in American history. While mining has become much safer due to more stringent regulation, such as the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, mining remains one of the most dangerous jobs in America. On Sunday, we should all take a moment to salute the people who continue to risk life and limb to provide the critical raw materials we all depend on.