FARMINGTON, W.Va. — The United Mine Workers of America will observe the 56th anniversary of the Farmington #9 Mine explosion in a ceremony set for Sunday afternoon.
The event will be held at the Farmington #9 Memorial site off Route 250 in Mannington at 1 p.m.
Seventy-eight coal miners were killed on Nov. 20, 1968 as a series of explosions and fire rocked the mine. Nineteen miners could not be recovered and remain entombed in the mine. The tragedy resulted in Congressional approval of the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969, the first comprehensive mine safety and health legislation in U.S. history.
UMWA President Cecil Roberts will be the keynote speaker Sunday. UMWA International Secretary-Treasurer Brian Sanson and UMWA District 31 Vice President Mike Payton will also attend the event.