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Calendar of Events for 2008




Thursday, December 4, 2008


Miner's Day - Roy Lee Cooke, Keynote Speaker

WVU Mountainlair Gluck Theatre, Morgantown, West Virginia
WVU
'Rocket Boy' Cooke to speak at WVU Miner's Day celebration

Roy L. Cooke, one of the original “Rocket Boys,” will help West Virginia University celebrate Miner’s Day at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Mountainlair Gluck Theatre.

Cooke, president of the Miner’s Day Memorial Association, will speak about the role that miners have played in America.

“The purpose of Miner’s Day is to honor the miners,” he said. “Everything we have we grow or mine, so they play a very important role in our state and our country. We owe them a lot for their sacrifices.”

Cooke grew up in Coalwood, where his father worked in the mines. In the 1950s, he and his friends at Big Creek High School built and launched homemade rockets and formed the Big Creek Missile Agency. They were known as the “Rocket Boys” made famous in Homer Hickam’s book and the 1999 movie “October Sky.”

Cooke is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the American Institute of Banking in Washington, D.C. He served as president of Carolina Domestic Coal and as a managing member of Cooke and Moses.

In addition, he was named a Distinguished West Virginian in 1999 and maintains a wide range of civic and business interests in the Appalachian area.

WVU student and 2006 Mountaineer Idol Kasey Hott will be master of ceremonies for the program. Special coal mining music is planned.

The program is being presented by the WVU Division of Student Affairs and the student chapter of the Society of Mining Engineers.

WVU’s event coincides with Miner’s Day, a state event honoring miners. The state Legislature designated Dec. 6 as Miner’s Day following an online grassroots petition.

For more information, contact Sonja.Wilson@mail.wvu.edu or call the Mountainlair administrative offices at 304-293-2702.




Thursday, March 27, 2008


Kathy Mattea @ CONSOL Energy - Robinson Run Mine Tour

Marion County, West Virginia
Kathy Mattea at Robinson Run Mine

Kneeling Front Row: Creed Holden; Jimmy Brock, Kathy Mattea, Michael Smith - Standing Back Row: Don London, Linda Hickam, Bill Cooley, Homer Hickam, Ray Lieving, Marvin McBribe, Jon Vezner

Photo by Mike Rohally








Tuesday, March 4, 2008

An Open Letter to the Members of the Delegations to the UN General Assembly Regarding Miners


Fairmont, West Virginia


MDMAWV Petition Banner


March 4, 2008


To Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and Members of the Delegations to the UN General Assembly,

The Miner's Day Memorial Association of West Virginia, in respect to the contributions of miners to the development and sustenance of world civilizations, requests the United Nations to consider hosting an "International Year of the Miner", and to do so at it's earliest possible convenience.

Sincerely,


Roy Lee Cooke
President

Miner's Day Memorial Association of West Virginia
Fairmont, West Virginia, US
A





Thursday, February 28, 2008

Congressman Nick Rahall of West Virginia Introduces National Miner's Day Resolution

US House of Representatives
Washington, District of Columbia
July 4, 2003
Continuing his lifelong advocacy for the American miner, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) introduced legislation, H. Res. 1006, in the U.S. House of Representatives today supporting the goals and ideals of a "National Miner's Day."

"Throughout our Nation's history, the American miner has risked life and limb in order to produce the raw materials that fuel our economy, the energy that heats our homes, and the resources that ensure our security," said Rahall. "Without these selfless and dedicated miners, American society would never have flourished, nor would it continue to function. It is fitting, therefore, that we recognize and honor these brave workers who have served our Nation quietly and faithfully for so many years."

As a Congressional leader on mining-related issues, Rahall introduced the National Miner's Day resolution to celebrate and honor the contributions of miners and encourage the people of the United States to participate in local and National activities celebrating the contributions of American miners. U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) is an original cosponsor of the resolution.

This Friday, February 29th, Congressman Rahall will be at Tamarack in Beckley, Raleigh County, at 1 p.m., where he will introduce New York Times best-selling author Homer Hickam at a book-signing event for Hickam's latest book, "Red Helmet." A native West Virginian and former coal miner, Hickam has been a leading proponent for establishing a national day of recognition for American miners.

"In West Virginia, we have long understood the immense value and importance of the labor of our coal miners," continued Rahall. "I am proud to be joined by my colleague from West Virginia, U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, in support of this resolution-sought by Homer Hickam and many West Virginians-that pays tribute to the contributions that miners have made to America throughout our history."





Thursday, February 28, 2008

CONSOL Energy's Robinson Run Mine Tour

Curtisville, Marion County, West Virginia
Roy Lee Cooke and Bill "Willy" Rose

Roy Lee Cook, and Billy "Willy" Rose, listen intently during part of their tour Of CONSOL Energy's Robinson Run mine, in Marion County, West Virginia.

Roy Lee and Billy are both sons of West Virginia and two of the "Rocket Boys" of Coalwood, WV.

Roy is also the President of the Miner's Day Memorial Association of West Virginia; and Founder and President of the History & Culture Institute of Mining.

Billy is a retired electrical engineer who worked in the mining indusrty, and a few other exciting occupations, as well.

Creed Holden, Homer Hickam, Roy Lee Cooke, Coal Miner

Creed Holden, Homer Hickam, Roy Lee Cook, and one of our Coal Miner guides, prepare to go on the mine tour.

Homer is a native West Virginian and  a former coal miner, he is also a leading proponent for establishing a National Miner's Day.

His latest book is a romatic thriller titled "Red Helmet", and revolves around a modern day coal mine.

Creed is Administrative Assistant for the MDMAWV; and Vice President and Secretary of the History & Culture Institure of Mining.

Joe Cerisano and Homer Hickam

Song writer Joe Cerisano and Homer pose for the photographer after their tour of the mine.

Joe is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Miner's Day Memorial Association of West Virginia; and also on the Board of Directors for the History & Culture
Institute of Mining.

Photos by Creed Holden, and Linda Terry Hickam

Thanks to CONSOL Energy and it's Mine Workers for their kind generosity.






Thursday, February 14, 2008

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 51 -- Urging the United States Congress declare an annual commemorative National Miner's Day.

Currently in Government Organization, as of Friday, February 15, 2008, and at the end of the Regular Session  on Saturday, March 8, 2008.

Charleston, West Virginia
WV State Senate Banner
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

SENATE JOURNAL

SEVENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION, 2008

THIRTY-SEVENTH DAY

Charleston, W. Va., Thursday, February 14, 2008

Senators Unger, Oliverio, Stollings, Foster, Hunter and Kessler offered the following resolution:

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 51-- Urging the United States Congress declare an annual commemorative National Miner's Day.

Whereas, Around the clock, second by second, miners risk life and limb during their labors; and

Whereas, The foundations and trappings of civilization are constructed from, and sustained with, the materials procured with their sweat and blood; and

Whereas, Without these selfless and dedicated miners human society could never have progressed, nor continued to function; and

Whereas, Miners in the United States have labored long and hard over the 231 years of our great country's existence and have achieved, provided and sacrificed much in those two centuries; and

Whereas, On December 6, 2007, Miner's Day was observed in West Virginia for the second time since its creation by the West Virginia Legislature; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby urges the United States Congress to declare an annual commemorative National Miner's Day; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Legislature expresses great thanks to the miners that risk their lives everyday for the betterment of our great state and country; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the members of the West Virginia delegation to the United States Congress.

Which, under the rules, lies over one day.



 
Calendar of Events for 2007



Monday, November 26, 2007

The History & Culture Institute of Mining
Museum and Memorial

MDMAWV Press Conference
Monday

November 26, 2007

2:00 pm

Technology Park
Research Center

1000 Galliher Drive

I-79 Technology Park

Fairmont, WV
Roy L. Cooke

MDMAWV President Roy L. Cooke




 


MDMAWV Board of Advisors




Please click here to view and sign the petition for a commemorative National Miner's Day for the United States of America.

MDMAWV Board of Advisors


 


If you would like to see the original Miner's Day web page, please click here.

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Updated November 24, 2008





 
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