February 11, 2009 9:04 PM
'The Best Of Our Country'
President Bush said Monday that the against-all-hope rescue of nine miners trapped for over three days in a flooded coal mine "really represents the best of our country."
"Today we're here to celebrate life, the value of life and most importantly the spirit of America," the president said from the small Green Tree firehouse, firefighting gear arrayed behind him, after a 20-minute private huddle with the men and their families.
Mr. Bush was briefly visiting western Pennsylvania en route to Washington from a long weekend stay at his family's coastal Maine getaway. Sandwiched between the event with the miners and a 20-minute ceremony to sign a bill ensuring certain federal rights to a fetus born alive during an abortion, Mr. Bush was raising $1 million for the gubernatorial bid of Pennsylvania's Republican attorney general, Mike Fisher.
CBS News Correspondent Mark Knoller reports the president also saluted the men and women responsible for staging the miraculous rescue, many of whom were in his audience along with the miners themselves, dressed casually in shorts, T-shirts and ballcaps.
"They came to work hour after hour, many of them volunteers. None asked where am I going to get my next paycheck from. All asked what can I do; what can I do as an American to help a neighbor in need," said Mr. Bush.
"What took place here in Pennsylvania really represents the best of our country. There are nine lives here who can testify that we're some of the best at rescuing our fellow citizens."
While in the Quecreek Mine near Somerset, Pa., the miners had broken through a wall to an abandoned mine filled with decades of storm-water runoff, pinning them 240 feet underground. The rescue just over a week ago used water pumps to stem the flooding, while a small airshaft and larger escape shaft were drilled.
The miners survived by finding higher ground, then huddling together to keep warm and sharing a paltry food supply.
The government is to investigate the accident while reviewing hazards posed by abandoned mines nationwide.
Outside the fire department, a crowd had gathered in anticipation of the president's arrival. Some signs held aloft were positive — "9 for 9 outta the mine!" said one.
Mr. Bush saluted the courage of the miners and their saviors — and linked it to a vein of strength running through all of America that he said would ensure victory in the nation's anti-terror war.
Mr. Bush isn't the only one interested in getting a closer look at the men. Their story already has spurred interest in a book and a TV movie — the rights to which were snapped up by The Walt Disney Co. for $150,000 to each miner — and possibly a postage stamp.
The nine rescued miners are: Randy Fogle, 43, of Garrett; Thomas Foy, 51, of Berlin; Harry B. Mayhugh, 31, Foy's son-in-law; John Unger, 52, of Hollsopple; John Phillippi, of Gray; Ronald Hileman, of Gray; Dennis Hall, 49, of Johnstown; Robert Pugh, 50, of Boswell; and Mark Popernack, 41, of Somerset.
Mr. Bush's effort to collect campaign cash for Fisher at a hotel luncheon follows an event in April in which the president also raised $1 million for his fellow Republican. Recent polls show Fisher trailing Democrat Edward G. Rendell, the former mayor of Philadelphia, in the race.
Afterward, he was remaining in the home state of Republican Sen. Rick Santorum to sign legislation the senator authored that amends the legal definitions of "person," "human being," "child" and "individual" to include a live birth that has occurred as part of an abortion procedure.
"Today we're here to celebrate life, the value of life and most importantly the spirit of America," the president said from the small Green Tree firehouse, firefighting gear arrayed behind him, after a 20-minute private huddle with the men and their families.
Mr. Bush was briefly visiting western Pennsylvania en route to Washington from a long weekend stay at his family's coastal Maine getaway. Sandwiched between the event with the miners and a 20-minute ceremony to sign a bill ensuring certain federal rights to a fetus born alive during an abortion, Mr. Bush was raising $1 million for the gubernatorial bid of Pennsylvania's Republican attorney general, Mike Fisher.
CBS News Correspondent Mark Knoller reports the president also saluted the men and women responsible for staging the miraculous rescue, many of whom were in his audience along with the miners themselves, dressed casually in shorts, T-shirts and ballcaps.
"They came to work hour after hour, many of them volunteers. None asked where am I going to get my next paycheck from. All asked what can I do; what can I do as an American to help a neighbor in need," said Mr. Bush.
"What took place here in Pennsylvania really represents the best of our country. There are nine lives here who can testify that we're some of the best at rescuing our fellow citizens."
While in the Quecreek Mine near Somerset, Pa., the miners had broken through a wall to an abandoned mine filled with decades of storm-water runoff, pinning them 240 feet underground. The rescue just over a week ago used water pumps to stem the flooding, while a small airshaft and larger escape shaft were drilled.
The miners survived by finding higher ground, then huddling together to keep warm and sharing a paltry food supply.
The government is to investigate the accident while reviewing hazards posed by abandoned mines nationwide.
Outside the fire department, a crowd had gathered in anticipation of the president's arrival. Some signs held aloft were positive — "9 for 9 outta the mine!" said one.
Mr. Bush saluted the courage of the miners and their saviors — and linked it to a vein of strength running through all of America that he said would ensure victory in the nation's anti-terror war.
Mr. Bush isn't the only one interested in getting a closer look at the men. Their story already has spurred interest in a book and a TV movie — the rights to which were snapped up by The Walt Disney Co. for $150,000 to each miner — and possibly a postage stamp.
The nine rescued miners are: Randy Fogle, 43, of Garrett; Thomas Foy, 51, of Berlin; Harry B. Mayhugh, 31, Foy's son-in-law; John Unger, 52, of Hollsopple; John Phillippi, of Gray; Ronald Hileman, of Gray; Dennis Hall, 49, of Johnstown; Robert Pugh, 50, of Boswell; and Mark Popernack, 41, of Somerset.
Mr. Bush's effort to collect campaign cash for Fisher at a hotel luncheon follows an event in April in which the president also raised $1 million for his fellow Republican. Recent polls show Fisher trailing Democrat Edward G. Rendell, the former mayor of Philadelphia, in the race.
Afterward, he was remaining in the home state of Republican Sen. Rick Santorum to sign legislation the senator authored that amends the legal definitions of "person," "human being," "child" and "individual" to include a live birth that has occurred as part of an abortion procedure.
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