
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 11, 1994                   TAG: 9403110182
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CREATING COAL MINERS' DAY

This resolution was unanimously approved by the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 28. Its sponsor was Supervisor Ira Long, a former coal miner who represents the McCoy area of Montgomery County.

"Whereas, Coal mining in the vicinity of Blacksburg and Prices Fork on Brush Mountain and Price Mountain dates back many years; much of the coal was shipped to various points in and out of the state; and

Whereas, For over 200 years coal mining was a means of earning a living for many Montgomery County residents, and only in recent years has the operation of coal mining ceased; and

Whereas, Husbands, fathers, sons, brothers and uncles labored daily in dangerous coal mines, going deep beneath the earth's surface to dig and hand load coal in an effort to provide for their family; and

Whereas, Tons of coal were mined in the Great Valley and Superior Anthracite/Big Vein Anthracite mines in McCoy and the anthracite mines in Merrimac and loaded on railroad cars and shipped to various places in the United States; and

Whereas, As a tribute to those deceased and other miners in Montgomery County and their families.

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved That the Board of Supervisors of Montgomery County, on behalf of all Montgomery County citizens, hereby recognizes and honor those miners by proclaming April 18, 1994, as Montgomery County Coal Miners Day and all April 18s in perpetuity as a day to remember the brave men who played such a vital role in the history and development of communities in this County.

Further, That the fourth Saturday of April each year be set aside as a time to observe Montgomery County Coal Miners' Day."

by CNB