Today is National Miner’s Day, officially proclaimed as such by Congress in 2009. The designation is intended to focus attention on mine workers, who perform one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Miners put their lives at risk each and every day as they contend with health and safety issues as well as their uncertainty of the future.

Everyday products that we use are made up from raw materials that have been excavated from mines and are a result of the work of the miners. These men and women play a much more important role in our lives than most people realize.