President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden attended the funeral service for the 29 miners who died in the Upper Big Branch mine earlier this month.
President Obama gave the eulogy. He spoke of the spirit of interdependence and kindness in the Appalachian town, and referred to a famous song written about the town of Beckley, W.Va.
“It’s the song, Lean on Me—an anthem of friendship, but also an anthem of community, of coming together,” said Obama.
He praised the men’s hard work and stoicism, and noted the powerful sense of pride miners and mining families shared. He called for stronger efforts to make mines safer.
“Our task, here on Earth, is to save lives from being lost in another such tragedy; to do what we must do, individually and collectively, to assure safe conditions underground, to treat our miners like they treat each other—like a family. Because we are all family and we are all Americans.”
